Alabaster Goes Red finds success with inaugural outing

Published 8:43 pm Monday, May 13, 2024

By Noah Wortham

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A sea of community members dressed in red were present at Alabaster’s Patriots Park during the inaugural Alabaster Goes Red event.

God Did It Ministries hosted the event for the first time on May 11 in order to provide locals an opportunity to have a good time while also providing information and spreading awareness of strokes.

“It was awesome,” said Sanchez Tanniehill, founder of God Did It Ministries. “It was a great day in the city of Alabaster. Vendors showed, participants showed up to run, stroke survivors showed up and received what we had. Overall, it was just a great day, everybody had fun.”

God Did It Ministries is a local outreach ministry that serves the Alabaster area and was founded by Tanniehill who is an Alabaster native, author and gospel recording artist. The organization gained its namesake from Tanniehill’s autobiographical work, “God Did It.”

The inaugural event’s mission to spread awareness about the dangers of strokes was one that hit close to home for Tanniehill who survived a stroke at just six weeks old.

“I wanted to highlight different stroke victims or people who passed away from strokes,” he said. “I wanted resources, I wanted something for the stroke victims, just to encourage them to keep going. (There are) going to be some hills and valleys, but you’re going to get through it.”

During the event, there were several activities for attendees to enjoy, including inflatables, giveaways, face painting, food trucks, vendors and a fun run as well as resources to help educate residents about strokes.

There were also physicians present from the greater Birmingham area, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and Heart South who attended the event and provided blood pressure checks.

Cheerleaders from Thompson High School attended the event and performed for those in attendance as well as the THS drum line. Members of both extracurricular groups also joined others in attendance during the Alabaster Goes Red fun run which was led by THS School Resource Officer Nathaniel Parker.

As part of the event’s mission to spread awareness, God Did It Ministries encouraged those in attendance to wear the color red to the event—a gesture which found success as Tanniehill said a majority of those in attendance sported the color as they enjoyed the event’s different offerings.

In addition to Alabaster Goes Red, God Did It Ministries is selling red stroke awareness ribbons for residents to decorate their mailbox with in recognition of Stroke Awareness Month.

Awareness bows can still be purchased online for $5 at Givebutter.com/redbow until the end of May.

After the success of the inaugural Alabaster Goes Red, Tanniehill shared he plans to make it an annual recurring event in the city of Alabaster. Tanneihill also shared that he plans to grow the event further with additional ideas such as a panel of stroke survivors who would be willing to share their stories.

More Alabaster Reporter

‘American Pickers’ coming back to Alabama, looking for interested participants

Area athletes named to volleyball All-State teams, Pelham’s Perry Robinson named 6A Coach of the Year

APD confirms one dead after alleged self-defense altercation at gas station

Alabaster police respond to shooting at Shell gas station, investigation ongoing

Print Article

SportsPlus

  • Polls

    What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...