7-Year-Old Helps Establish Cheetah Spirit Day In Morris County

MORRISTOWN, NJ— 7-year-old Morris Township resident Stella Coyle really love animals, and doesn't want to see any of them, including cheetahs, go extinct. So she decided to do something to help.

Coyle, a student at Unity Charter School, combined her love of animals with her love of running to organize the Morristown Cheetah Sprint, a 1 mile fun run held before the annual St. Paddy's Day 5K. She's been participating in the St. Paddy's Day run with her parents since she was just four years old.

With help from dad John, her teacher Kimberly McCurnin and Superhero Events, Coyle organized the run to benefit the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

In recognition of her efforts, the Morris County Board of Freeholders proclaimed March 11, 2017 Cheetah Spirit Day throughout the county.

“She is a remarkable young lady, with great poise,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “The Freeholders are proud to issue this proclamation on her behalf, wish her well with the race and in raising money for her cause.’’

You can register for the Morristown Cheetah Sprint by clicking HERE.

Here's the full proclamation, declaring March 11, 2017 Cheetah Spirit Day:

Whereas, Ginty Field in Morris Township will be the home of the first-ever Morristown Cheetah Sprint fundraiser on the morning of March 11, 2017, with runners and walkers of all ages and abilities invited to participate in this truly positive event, and

Whereas, the Cheetah Run is a creation of Morris Township first-grader and Unity Charter School student Stella Coyle, who loves cheetahs and loves to run – she has run in the St. Paddy’s Day 5K at Ginty Field each year since she was age 4, and

Whereas, this race is a fundraiser for the Cheetah Conservation Fund, which was founded in the African country of Namibia in 1990, and is dedicated to saving cheetahs from extinction in the wild, and features a world class research facility that is home to groundbreaking research in the biology, ecology and genetics of the cheetah, and

Whereas, with generous assistance of Superhero Racing, Stella’s dream to combine her love of running with her love for animals is now a reality, and she is asking the residents of Morris County to join her on race day course on the morning of May 11, and to consider staying for the St. Paddy’s Day 5K, which follows, as well, and

Whereas, the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders applauds this initiative by this inspiring young person, and thanks her parents, Katherine and John; the teachers and administrators at Unity Charter School, and Super Hero Events for their encouragement and assistance with this outstanding effort;

Now Therefore, I, Douglas R. Cabana, Director of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, proclaim March 11, 2017, to be Morristown Cheetah Sprint Day in Morris County, and congratulates Stella Coyle for a job well done.

Images via Morris County Government