"We're helping everybody no matter where they live in Kentucky," said Ashleigh Freda, a Lexington resident who founded The Running Wife group, with members in places including Grayson, Olive Hill, Ashland, Lexington, Louisville and Christian County.
A mother of two, Freda said The Running Wife's members became aware of the need for food and supplies to support the backpack program in Carter County during their ongoing virtual calls. Representatives of UK Rehab immediately stepped up to help," she said.
"They pulled up with $500 worth of food and put it in the back of my car," she said, adding the group then contacted Becky Walker to get the food items divided up and sent out to homes in Carter County through the local backpack program.
The support will also include sidewalk chalk and soap bubbles "to help distract kids and give joy," Freda said.
"We just got this idea Saturday. We roll fast!" Freda said with a chuckle, explaining The Running Wife's members are planning fun ways to further support families - including a coordinated "Taco Night" on Cinco de Mayo.
"We do taco night a lot at our house," she said, later adding "taco kits" are an affordable option to provide, and will generally feed a family of four. A "virtual race" with participants running four mile routes of their own choosing, will be used to generate funds for meat and additional taco-night toppings and ingredients.
The race has already received support from each of FirstLight Home Care's Kentucky offices, as well as The 10th Planet in Danville.
Participants can register for the virtual race at therunningwife.com. Registration must be complete by April 20 to receive the official T-shirt, Freda said.
The Running Wife operates by memberships, currently set at $100 per year, Freda said. Much of the group's past focus was on coordinated group races and running events, which have all been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. In the meanwhile, Freda said The Running Wife's members are enjoying daily video chats with lessons including weight training, dance and yoga.
For more information, look up The Running Wife on Facebook HERE.
Story by TIM PRESTON
Carter County Post