Inaugural Madness in March 5k raises more than $3,000 for North Light

Frigid temperatures didn’t stop nearly 150 people from crowding the Manayunk Towpath Saturday for North Light Community Center’s first Madness in March 5k.

 

The race kicked off at 9 a.m. and participants paid up to $30 to run individually or in teams. All proceeds from the event will go directly to North Light Community Center’s tutoring and educational after-school child care programs. 

“We are so looking forward to being able to help the community even more through this 5k,” said Deirdre Childs, a member of North Light’s board of directors.

The top three men and the top three women each received a medal and a gift card to Bryn Mawr Running Company and members of the largest team got tickets to see a Phillies game. Event organizers had fresh food and drinks ready for runners at the finish line.

Childs said the organization hopes to make the race an annual event, expanding on this year’s success.

The North Light Community Center serves more than 3,000 people in Manayunk and the surrounding areas. 

Joseph Van Dusen and Alexis Wilkinson are students at Temple University. They produced this piece in collaboration with WHYY/NewsWorks.