Fort Myers Track Club goes virtual for local businesses

Fort Myers Track Club is holding Social Distance Challenge

THE BIGGEST ADDITION ARE ANALL-PEWTER SET THE TEAM WILLHAVE AS AN ALTERNATE OPTION.HEY EVERYBODY, I’M Chris Shaw,WORKING FROM HOME TODAY, ON OURWE’RE OPEN SERIES.THESE ARE STORIES ABOUT LOCALBUSINESSES OR NON-PROFITS THATARE HAVING TO CHANGE THE WAYTHEY DO THINGS, TO KEEP GOINGDURING THIS PANDEMIC.TODAY’S STORY, IS THE PERFECTEXCUSE TO GET OUTSIDE.IN A NORMAL YEAR, AROUND THISTIME, JUST ABOUT EVERY SATURDAYMORNING YOU WOULD SEE SOMETHINGLIKE THIS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.IT’S NOT JUST THAT PEOPLE ARERUNNINGIT’S WHY THEY’RERUNNING.HAVING A 5K OR A 10K RACE, ISHOW A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS RAISEMONEY.AND MANY OF THEM USE THE FortMyers TRACK CLUB TO HELP THEM DOIT.SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUB"We’ve canceled obviously, allgroup runs, all groupactivities."AND JEANNE HERTEL WITH THE FortMyers TRACK CLUB TELLS ME,CANCELLING ALL RACES UNTIL ATLEAST JULY, WILL HAVE AN AFFECTON THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUB"We had to cancel a race forMay, for the friends of Lover’sKey, so they’re obviously losingcharitable proceeds from thatrace, which helps them operatethroughout the year."THEY’RE LOSING, IN SOME CASES,15-THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE.AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY AREHURTINGTRACK CLUB DECIDED TOSEE IF IT COULD HELP IN ADIFFERENT WAYWITH ’THE SOCIALDISTANCE CHALLENGE.’SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUB"It’s a virtual race.

You haveto follow all the socialdistancing guidelines, you haveto stay six fee apart.

You runalone, or separated from otherpeople if you want to run as agroup."YOU DON’T HAVE TO RUN EITHER.YOU CAN WALKOR JUST DONATE.AND THAT’S THE KEY.THE TRACK CLUB IS ANON-PROFITAND RIGHT NOW,THEY’RE JUST TRYING TO HELPPEOPLE.,SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUB"This is going to smallbusinesses, local businessesright here in lee county."SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUB"We’ve had a lot of businessessupport us over the years, andwe would like to give back."SOWHEN YOU GO TO THE Fort MyersTRACK CLUB WEBSITE, YOU CAN SIGNUP FOR 5K, A 10K, A 15K, OR AHALF MARATHON.EVERYBODY GET’S A T-SHIRT*AND*IF YOU DO ALL FOUR RACES, ANDSUBMIT YOUR TIMES ONLINEYOU GETA MEDAL.SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUBChris: "What has the reactionbeen?

Are people just itching todo something like this?"JeAnne: "It’s actually beenphenomenal.

I’m actuallyshocked, but not shocked.

Ourcommunity is really good aboutgiving back, very generous andvery thoughtful."AND THAT’S PART OF WHAT GIVESHER HOPE.WHAT WE’RE ALL GOING THROUGHRIGHT NOW, IS LIKE A LONG RACE.SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUB"I think that there is an end insight.

I think the science isgoing to catch up with it, nodoubt about it."SOTJEANNE HERTEL, Fort MyersTRACK CLUB"But in the meantime, try to getout, try to exercise."━ON CA━WE ARE COMMITTED TO TELLINGTHESE KINDS OF STORIES