About 13,000 runners are expected to hit the streets for the Charlotte Marathon this Saturday, and all of the proceeds benefit Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital.
While the runners prepare for Saturday’s big and long race, the kids here who will benefit from it were the first finishers to cross the line on Wednesday.
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Ryder is one of the kids at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital. He’s been cooped up in a room for two days, which is tough for him and his mom.
“It’s stressful. And overwhelming. A lot. And then to be confined to 4 walls makes it a little worse. So events like this are really nice,” said Vanessa Villanueva, Ryder’s mom.
The Charlotte Marathon is Saturday, and all the proceeds benefit the children’s hospital.
One of the child life specialists who helps these kids is also running in the half-marathon Saturday.
“It is my first one! Me and a lot of my coworkers are running, so we’re really excited to give back to Novant and help support our patients through that,” said Avery Bradford at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital.
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“Are you excited or nervous?” asked Channel 9’s Evan Donovan.
“Both, for sure both,” Bradford said.
For the first time, the marathon is being put on by the Charlotte Sports Foundation, which also puts on the Duke’s Mayo Classic and the Charlotte Invitational. They hope this becomes a community event, not just for runners.
“Yes, so that’s something we’re trying to bring forth this year is really capture all the different neighborhoods the runners will be going through and get the community out and cheering. And maybe this can be something the community can own and look forward to every year,” said Kaleah Ellerbe with the Charlotte Sports Foundation.
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As kids enjoyed blowing bubbles and making signs for the race, Ryder became the first finisher to cross the line.
“Ladies and gentlemen, for the 2026 Charlotte Marathon, he’s fast as can be, coming down the chute, he’s our first first-finisher, Ryder,” an announcer said.
The Charlotte Marathon is this Saturday morning, and everyone is encouraged to come out and run or cheer.
“What I love is it starts in Uptown and then you get to go into Eastover and look at all of the big houses and hear 10,000 footsteps and you get to go through Myers Park, Dilworth, South End, Plaza Midwood, NoDa, all these really unique neighborhoods that make Charlotte special,” said Miller Yoho with the Charlotte Sports Foundation.
Channel 9 will have a full wrap-up in our Charlotte Marathon special at noon on Sunday, so if you’re at the race on Saturday, you can still watch.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
