UWG News Archive

WGNB Run for A DAY

September 12, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - If you want to catch up with the chair of the University of West Georgia’s WGNB Run for A DAY, put on your running shoes and get moving! Linda Picklesimer is leading the road race pack for 2003, and she is no rookie when it comes to hitting the course.

“I have always been a runner, and I have been the chair of this road race for 15 years,” she explained. “I wanted to lend my expertise for something that I had a strong interest in.”

UWG News Photo In its 18th year and running, the Run for A DAY, according to Picklesimer, has seen many changes in its courses, as well as in its participants. The race once consisted of a five-mile course with around 100 runners. Now it offers a 5k and one-mile run with over 600 participants. The Tot Trot is the newest edition to the Run for A DAY, and in its two years has seen numbers more than double from 10 participants in 2001, to 25 this past year.

“We have adapted the race to encourage as much involvement from students and the community as possible,” she noted. “This event has been held on Saturdays and Sundays in the past, but Thursday, which the race has been on for several years, seemed to be the magic day to fit into everyone’s schedule.”

The sponsor of the race has also changed over the years. West Georgia National Bank has been sponsor now since 2001.

As the Director of Student Activities, Picklesimer believes that student involvement is an important factor to the success of the A DAY campaign.

“A DAY is to raise money for the students, so who better to get involved than the students themselves,” she said.

A DAY provides numerous opportunities for students to lend their efforts. Volunteers are needed to help organize the Run for A DAY in various activities such as: registering runners, keeping time on the course, passing out water during the race, and motivating runners as they make their way on the course.

Students can also participate in the Mr. and Ms. A DAY event that recognizes two exemplary University of West Georgia students, and students can also take part as a volunteer on the A DAY Committee that organizes the overall campaign.

Aside from supporting University students in volunteerism and leading the Run for A DAY, Picklesimer has dedicated herself to support other volunteer and professional organizations off campus. She is a volunteer and lobbyist for the American Cancer Society and served on the Relay for Life Planning Commission. Picklesimer has served on the board of directors for the Rotary Club and Carroll County Community Theater. On the professional level she belongs to the American College Personnel Association, and is the scholastic chair of the National Association for Campus Activities.

Picklesimer has always been passionate about volunteer work, and believes that her devotion developed from her childhood.

“My need to volunteer stemmed from my parents being dedicated volunteers,” she explained. “I get a lot of enjoyment from it and have always been committed to making things better.”

On October 2, join Picklesimer, volunteers and runners for the WGNB Run for A DAY. The Tot Trot will begin at 5:15 p.m. followed by the one mile walk/run at 5:45 p.m. and the 5K run at 6:15 p.m. For more information, contact the UWG Foundation at 770-836-6582 or check for a race application on the website at www.westga.edu/~alumni and then click on A day Run.

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