'Race to Zero' Purple Pinkie 5K at DelVal University

Area Rotary clubs are joining forces to make this year’s Yvette Palmer “Race to Zero” Purple Pinkie 5K and family fun walk in Doylestown a big success in Rotary International’s effort to eradicate polio around the globe.

Several clubs in Rotary District 7430, which comprises Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery counties as well as Bucks, are assisting with behind-the-scenes planning and execution and volunteers have signed up to help out the day of the Doylestown race: Doylestown, Central Bucks, Warminster, Warrington, North Penn and Hatboro. Members of many more clubs are registering to run or walk in the event and most clubs are supporting the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus with donations.

Major event sponsor is Penn Color. Major gift-in-kind support comes from professional road runner coach Kevin Crail of Crail’s Running Company, who is coordinating this race for Doylestown Rotary.

“We’re looking forward to partnering with the other clubs,” says Crail. “It takes a lot of hard-working people to make an event that runs smoothly and is fun and safe for all involved, especially the runners, walkers and their families.”

Rotary’s Race to Zero
“There is no cure for polio,” reminds Gail Linenberg, president of the Rotary Club of Doylestown. “Vaccination is the only option. So Rotary International and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication initiative have made a bold commitment to vaccinate every child in the most complex and war-torn regions of the world.”

Why Purple Pinkie? When vaccinating children in remote areas, volunteers hand out candy as a reward. Not surprisingly, the kids would get back in line for more candy. The volunteers began dipping a child’s pinkie finger tip in purple ink to identify who had been inoculated.

“Today we run with purple pinkies to show our support of this important global effort,” says Crail.

“The money raised by this race in entry fees, sponsorships and direct donations is hugely important: every dollar sent to the Rotary Foundation for the eradication of polio worldwide will be tripled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.”

Race details
The race, which includes a one-kilometer fun walk that is wheelchair accessible, is held on the rural campus of Delaware Valley University, 700 East Butler Avenue, Doylestown 18901. The race starts at the Mandell Science Building on Campus Drive, across the quad from parking at the Life Sciences Building lot that’s accessible from New Britain Road.

Race-day registration opens at 8:00am. Race starts at 9:30am. Awards at 10:30am.

• Online with credit card at Pretzel City Sports (nominal service fee; online registration closes midnight 10/3) (https://www.pretzelcitysports.com/onlineform1.php?id=1446)
• By mail, payment by check, using registration form printed from Purple Pinkie race site (http://www.purplepinkie.net/purple-pinkie-delval-bucks/ )
• At the race on October 6, starting at 8:00am

Entry fees: $25 ($15 for 17 & under); after September 20 postmark, $35 ($25 for 17 & under)

Tee shirts are reserved for those registering by September 20, then while supplies last through September 30.

Questions about this Purple Pinkie 5K? Contact Kevin Crail, race coordinator, at CrailsRunning@gmail.com or call 215.359.7368 and leave a message.

For more information on sponsoring a runner, donating to Race to Zero and other Purple Pinkie 5Ks around the country: http://www.purplepinkie.net/purple-pinkie-delval-bucks/.

About Doylestown Rotary
The Rotary Club of Doylestown, founded in 1924, is a volunteer service organization comprising 85 neighbors, friends and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our community and around the world. This branch of Rotary International meets on Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30am, at Bucks County Intermediate Unit and Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30pm, at Doylestown Country Club. In addition, the Doylestown club’s Young Professionals group for ages 21-35 meets on the third Thursday, 6pm, upstairs at Maxwell's on Main (MOM’s). Members of the community are invited to attend any of these meetings to learn more about Rotary. Among its many community programs, this club sponsors scholarships for high school students, coordinates international exchange programs, provides volunteers for community events and funds worthy local projects. The Doylestown Rotary strives to encourage and foster service as a basis of worthy enterprise. For more information, visit Doylestown Rotary Club.