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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Runners will have a chance to enjoy a healthy sprint while also supporting a local family who needs help with adoption fees during the sixth annual Forging Families 5K/10K.

“I love everything about this race,” said Joel Dixon who organizes the race. “It’s such a fun, rewarding day each year. I love raising this money for such an important cause.”

This year’s installment will take place on Saturday, Feb. 1 after being delayed from Jan. 11. It will begin at the Grande Hall at the Shelby County Arts Council. Packet pick up and race registration will open at 7 a.m. The 5K and 10K will start at 8 a.m. with the 1 mile fun run set for approximately 9:15 a.m. or as soon as the 5K and 10K courses are clear.

“It’s awesome to see the community support it the way they do; I’m always amazed at how competitive the times are for this event,” Dixon said. “It really is a super-fast course. But I also love watching people who may not be the fastest, but may be finishing a 5K or 10K for the first time, people who are finding out how much they can achieve.”

Each year, the Forging Families 5K/10K raises funds for Sacred Selections to support a local family with adoption fees and this year’s race will be held on behalf of Conner and Jaci Burleson. The Helena couple have been married for five and a half years and this marks their first adoption.

“They actually just matched with their baby when I spoke to them a week or so ago,” Dixon said. “I’ve actually known Jaci her entire life. Her parents and I grew up together in Hueytown. I had no idea they were adopting prior to reaching out to Sacred Selections to see if they had a family locally in process. It was really cool to find out it was Conner and Jaci.”

This year marks the sixth installment of the Forging Families 5K/10K which has continued to grow and improve each year. For Dixon, there have been three goals for the race from the very beginning.

Firstly, he wants to ensure the money raised each year is donated to Sacred Selections to assist Christian families in Alabama with the costs associated with adoption.

“Our first year, we supported Loren and Jennifer Russell from Wilsonville,” Dixon said. “They were beginning their second adoption and I saw firsthand how expensive adoptions are—ranging from $20,000, if you’re lucky, to $60,000 or more. Sacred Selections is a non-profit organization committed to assisting Christian families in their effort to adopt. I can’t say enough about the individuals and businesses that sponsor our race each year.”

Since that first outing, the Forging Families 5K/10K has donated more than $55,000 to Sacred Selections.

Dixon shared that his second goal with the race was to put on what he describes as a “first-class” event and in order to accomplish that he makes sure that both the 5K and 10K courses are USA Track and Field Certified.

“We use a digital timing service to ensure our times are accurate,” Dixon said. “We actually had a state record broken in the male 50-55 category a few years ago.  That record would not have counted without the course being certified.”

According to Dixon, the course is mostly flat which helps in delivering a fast time. He also shared that they receive a significant amount of help from the community. The Shelby County High School and Columbiana Middle School cheerleaders come out and cheer for runners along the course. Additionally, members of the Shelby County High School football team and coaches watch each corner to ensure participants stay on course.

Dixon highlighted that the organizers also spend a little more on shirts than usual in order to secure Dri-FIT shirts for the runners.

“As a runner myself, I appreciate it when I get a shirt I can use for running,” he said. “I have too many cotton shirts as it is. Honestly, I get a kick when I see people wearing the shirts.  It always reminds me of the tremendous impact we can have when we get behind something bigger than ourselves.”

Dixon shared that the last goal he has for the race each year is to bring newcomers to the city of Columbiana with the hope that they’ll fall in love with the area in the way that he has.

“We have runners from all over the state who come down and even some from Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi,” Dixon said. “We even had a couple from Michigan who were on their back home and decided to stop in and run. This little town is amazing, full of great people and great places. I hope those who come will visit our local businesses and find out a little more about what makes Columbiana so special.”

Those interested in signing up for the Forging Families 5K/10K may visit Jdixon0508.wixsite.com/forgingfamilies5k.