HUNTSVILLE – For 2017, the annual Run to Rescue 5K will have the “Glow Edition” when runners take off for the Downtown Rescue Mission’s fundraiser.

The race is scheduled for Aug. 5 at Big Spring Park on Church Street. The festivities will begin at 7 p.m. with “glow stations and a carnival atmosphere,” Tonia Beverly said. Beverly is Director of Events & Business Partnerships for the mission.

Just after sunset, the race will start at 8 p.m. “This experience will be different than any other,” Beverly said. “The park’s extended pathways lend well to a family-friendly running experience.”

Nothing will be thrown at runners to make them glow in the dark, “though they are encouraged to be as ‘glowy’ as they’d like to be. There will be a ‘Greatest Glow’ winner,” Beverly said.

The 3.3-mile route will go three times around the newly renovated Big Spring Park. “The run is not an official 5K but will be a lot of fun to run at night,” Greg Gelmis, We Run Race Photos LLC, said. “We love to photograph fun and unusual events that encourage people to be active in our community. The Run to Rescue – Glow Edition will be lots of fun.” 

Torch Technologies is the event’s title sponsor.

Other sponsors include Bank Independent, Chick-fil-A Madison, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Downtown Huntsville Inc., Thrivent Financial and Beautification Gutter Cleaning & Painting. Sponsorships and exhibitor booths are available.

Friends and relatives who don’t enter the run can support the mission by buying luminaries for $5 each. Luminaries will line the entire race route in honor, memory or celebrating those individuals that addiction has affected, along with supporting run participants and the mission.

Late registration is open through Aug. 3. Runners cannot register at the park. To register, visit run2rescue5k.tk. For more information, call Beverly at 256-713-4343, email tonia@downtownrescuemission.org or visit run2rescue5k.tk.

For general information about the mission, visit downtownrescuemission.org.