December 9, 2006

Dear Lawrence City Commission Members,

            We are writing this letter to request your support for The Lawrence Half Marathon & 5k (formerly The Raintree Run), which will benefit the Health Care Access Clinic.  The event will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2007, beginning at 8:00 am. This will be the eleventh year for the event, but the first for our new beneficiaries. Due to health issues with their grandson, Gibson Huston, the directors of Raintree Montessori School could no longer host the race.  Health Care Access Clinic was chosen as the new beneficiary, with the stipulation that the One Mile Fun Run this year would benefit the Huston family to help them pay for medical expenses.

            The Raintree Run began in 1995 with approximately 250 participants, and by 2006 had become one of the largest running events in Kansas, with over 1600 participants from 20 states.  Since Raintree Montessori School is no longer the venue for the race, it became necessary to design a new course.  Our proposed half marathon (13.1 miles) course will showcase much of the city of Lawrence.  It will start at Haskell Indian Nations University and run past various landmarks, including Downtown Lawrence, Old West Lawrence, Kansas University, East Lawrence, and finish on the track at Haskell Stadium.

            The new course has generated a lot of enthusiasm from runners, sponsors, and other members of the community.  We feel this event has the potential to become even more of a “destination event” than was the Raintree Run.

            Our experience in directing running events dates back to 1991.  Races we have initiated, directed, and/or assisted with include the Crosstown Unity Run, Sandrat Trail Run, Run for Success, the original Heather’s Run, Clinton Cross Country Challenge, Shamrock Shuffle, and of course the Raintree Run, to name a few.

Obviously, the scope of this event is unique.  We have received approval from Haskell Indian Nations University, Kansas University, and the Downtown Lawrence Inc. to run in their areas.  We have met with Dave Corliss, a representative of the Lawrence Police Department, and other city departments including Public Works and Lawrence Fire & Medical, to coordinate efforts and resources.  We are very appreciative of the support we have received from these groups.

We have contacted the Barker, East Lawrence, Oread, Brook Creek, Old West Lawrence neighborhood organizations, and the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods, asking for their support in providing volunteers and spectators.   We have informed them of possible traffic pattern changes during the race, and we will send out notices, publish a map of the route in the newspaper, and have offered to visit with their neighborhood organizations.

            We have met with Captain Steve Zarnoweic of the Lawrence Police Department, and as a preliminary estimate have determined that we would require numerous barricades and traffic cones, approximately 16 temporary stop signs, and 18 to 20 police officers.  We are requesting that the City of Lawrence furnish and absorb the cost of these traffic controlling devices and personnel.  

We are also requesting that the Lawrence City Commission approve the use of the city streets for the Lawrence Half Marathon & 5k.  A map and detailed description of the course is attached.

It is our hope that the Lawrence Half Marathon & 5k will be an event that benefits the entire community.  In doing so, it will also serve as a profitable fundraiser for Health Care Access Clinic.

Sincerely,

                                                                                                Steve and Marcia Riley