The BMW Dallas Marathon has events spread over three days this weekend. This is the 51st year for the event, which starts Friday with the Health & Fitness Expo at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
"This is a tremendous way to kick off the weekend," Paul Lambert, president of runDallas. "The beneficiary is Scottish Rite for Children, so it showcases the beautiful things they do here at the hospital."
Lambert says he looks forward to introducing the junior race directors every year.
"It's good to see these kids, not only do they get back to being kids, but they can truly get back to engaging in what they love to do," he says.
Scottish Rite for Children became the beneficiary of the Dallas Marathon in 1997. Since then, the marathon says it has raised more than $4 million for the organization.
"It's an event we look forward to every year," says Scottish Rite for Children Chief Executive Robert Walker. "It's a way we can get some of our patients engaged in activities to help support the hospital. It's a big deal. We look forward to it."
In addition to raising money, Walker says the marathon brings attention to the work Scottish Rite does.
"We want the general public to know what we do, how we specialize in pediatric orthopedics, and the conditions we treat here," he says. "It's a way for us to introduce many who may be unfamiliar to what we do."
Walker says the hospital's theme is to support the patient and patient's family.
"Everyone, from when you walk in the front door to when you leave, everyone is kind," says Latoya Anthony, whose daughter receives educational support for dyslexia. "We've never had an incident where we feel like we're not welcomed."
"It's been great, actually, meeting a lot of new friends, new teachers," her daughter says. "Everything's changing so fast, it's like the future is already here."
Races begin Friday with "grand prix" style racing around Dallas City Hall.
Events begin Saturday with the 10K at 8:30. Also Saturday are the 5K and 5K team challenge, kids 100 meter dash and Oncor kids' race.
Sunday will include relays, the half marathon, full marathon and ultra marathon.
A full schedule of events is available here. A timeline for street closures is available here.
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