Ellington

The Hamilton Family YMCA, Academy Sports + Outdoors and Hamilton Place Mall are teaming up to bring a holiday- and helping-centered 5k run to the East Brainerd area with the Nov. 3 Reindeer Dash.

The event, which benefits the Hamilton Family YMCA, kicks off the holiday season, serving as a welcome to Santa for his annual visit to the mall, said CBL & Associates Group Marketing Director Catherine Wells.

Participants will follow a trail that begins and ends at Academy Sports + Outdoors, taking them around the mall on a 3.1-mile trek. Since the course is around the mall, it will be mostly flat and perfect for any age, Wells noted.

“It’s just such a natural tie,” she said of the partnership between Hamilton Family YMCA and Hamilton Place Mall. “We serve such a broad breadth of people, and this is the first real big event we wanted to do. We want to make it an annual walk.”

“I think this is the beginning of something very cool,” added Hamilton Family YMCA Executive Director Chris Knox.

Funds raised at the Reindeer Dash will help support a number of programs at the Hamilton Family YMCA, including its Strong Kids Campaign; financial assistance for kids, families and seniors to participate in the YMCA’s programs; and Y-CAP, a mentorship program that benefits disadvantaged youth.

“Our three key focus areas are youth development, healthy living and social responsibility,” said Knox. “The need is there — the needs are huge. Life-changing programs are what we are after. We can’t do that if they can’t afford to participate.”

Grand prize for the first place male and female at the race is a $250 gift certificate to Academy Sports + Outdoors.

A DJ, bouncy house and other family-friendly activities will be on-site. Free on-site child care will be provided by Hamilton Family YMCA staff, but parents and guardians need to let race planners know at least one week in advance if child care is needed.

The race begins at 8:30 a.m. Participants can pick up race packets Nov. 2 from 4-8 p.m. at Academy Sports or on race day. Advance registration costs $25; day of the race it’s $30.

For more information email Kathy Dew at kdew@ymcachattanooga.org, call 899-1721 or visit www.ymcachattanooga.org or hamiltonplace.com.