24th Annual Double Decker Spring Run raises $2K for YMCA

Pam Swain, Chamber Senior Vice President and Race Director (second from left) presents the check to Leslie Kennedy, YMCA Director, and the YMCA board of directors.
Photo provided by the Chamber

The 24th annual Double Decker Spring Run, hosted by the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, provided more than exercise and a healthy start to Oxford’s biggest festival this year. Funds raised from the event will continue to provide healthy programming for area citizens of all ages.

Held in April during the Double Decker Arts Festival, this year’s event was presented by Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. Baptist has been the presenting sponsor of the ever-growing race for all 24 years.

The Chamber announced in February of plans to donate $1 of every race registration to YMCA’s Annual Campaign. Registration was also set up for people to donate additional dollars to the YMCA at checkout, which resulted in even more support.

The total amount the Chamber donated this year to the YMCA was $2,051.

The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce continues to partner with the Oxford YMCA as its race host location. As part of that partnership, and in response to the race’s continued growth and community support, the Chamber decided early in this year’s planning to share part of the registration success with the Oxford YMCA.

“The Oxford YMCA is proud to partner with the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the Double Decker run,” said Oxford YMCA director Leslie Kennedy. “It is exciting to be part of such a great event that brings our community together.”

The Oxford YMCA is a non-profit organization whose mission to help strengthen the community. Strengthening the community runs right in line with the Oxford Chamber’s mission.

In the community, the Oxford YMCA works side-by-side with its’ neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

“The proceeds received from this race will go directly to our Annual Campaign which allows us to support YMCA programs such as Summer Camp, Fins Up for Fitness Healthy Kids Day and a Parkinson’s exercise class,” Kennedy says. “We are grateful to the Chamber for helping to make a positive impact in our community with this donation.”

The Chamber has a long-standing relationship with the YMCA, with the Y being the host location for the Double Decker Spring Run since it came to Oxford in 2013. The YMCA has been a great partner for growing the race to this year’s 1,730 total runners from 27 different states. Of these 1,730 runners, 77 percent traveled from outside of Lafayette County.

Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the Double Decker Spring Run and will be held on April 25th, 2020. The registration window for this race will open to the public in late 2019 on the race website www.doubledeckerspringrun.com.

Courtesy of the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce