Nolan Weber 5K expected to be bigger than last year's race

Event organizers said this year's Nolan Weber 5K will be even bigger than last year's event.

Rachelle Weber, who lost her son, Nolan, to brain cancer in 2013, said the second annual race has more to offer.

"Last year, we had about 300 participants," she said. "This year, we are trending to be on track or surpass that number, and we have a few new events this year, too."

This year's race will feature the same 5-kilometer race along a route Nolan used to train for sports at Jackson High school but also will feature a 1-mile race, a "color dash" for children and a bounce house for the smallest children.

"It's not just a normal 5K," Weber explained. "If you're not a runner, if you don't think you can put in that distance, there's still something for everyone."

She said including a 1-mile race opened the runner demographic, and they've already had runners in their 60s register.

Registration for the 5K and 1-mile is $30, and registration for the color dash -- children 12 and younger -- is $15. Registration will be open until a half-hour before the 5K starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Proceeds from the event will benefit area families with children who have been diagnosed with catastrophic illnesses, such as cancer. Last year's event raised about $10,000.

"We got a lot of support from sponsorships and donations," Weber said. "And what was fun about last year was that we got a lot of support from the athletes in our area. We had a lot of volunteers from [Southeast Missouri State University's athletic teams] and local cheerleaders. The Jackson soccer team, which Nolan was a part of and which his brother Colton now plays for, runs it as a team."

Online pre-registration is free and can be accessed by visiting www.runreg.com/2nd-annual-nolan-weber-believers-5k.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

219 E. Main St., Jackson, Mo.