The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Track & Field Participates In Community Service
3/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
March 17, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Although the outdoor season is now underway, the UAB track and field team took time out of its busy training schedule to participate in two local community service projects within the past week.
On Friday, March 12, the Blazers traveled to Gwin Elementary in Hoover to eat lunch with the students and celebrate National Breakfast Week. Lunch started with the kindergarteners at 10:30 a.m. and each grade came in succession until the fifth graders finished around 12:30 p.m. While eating with the kids, the Blazers emphasized the importance of a healthy diet and the significant role breakfast plays in a healthy lifestyle.
"We had a chance to go to Gwin Elementary this past week and talk to their students about the importance of nutrition," UAB interim head coach Kurt Thomas said. "Our athletes had a great time speaking with the children. The staff there was wonderful and welcoming, and I know our athletes enjoyed speaking to the children probably as much as the kids enjoyed hearing what we had to say."
On Monday, March 15, the track and field team spent the afternoon volunteering at Red Mountain Park. Red Mountain Park extends 4.5 miles along Red Mountain from Homewood to Bessemer. The park is a mutli-phase development project that will open as each section is completed.
"Since this week is spring break from classes, we had a little time to volunteer at Red Mountain Park," Thomas said. "Coach Boldon and Lucy Taylor really did all the work to set it up. Red Mountain Park is in the beginning stages of being a tremendous recourse in the Birmingham community. They are only getting started, but have already opened their arms to us and allow us to run there, and we wanted to give back and help them a little."
The ladies worked on trail construction and improved an existing path that the Blazer cross country team already uses for practice even though the park is not open to the public yet. The park currently depends heavily on volunteer labor to build trails connecting historic sites and a natural soft surface trail system. When the park is completed, it will provide dozens of soft surface running trails only miles from campus.
"Our team spent about two hours clearing a trail from the roots, rocks and leaves that have covered it and made it near impassable," Thomas said. "Everyone could see a tremendous difference from when we started. I think the girls really saw the benefit of their volunteer work and we can't wait to see what the park grows into in the near future."
To get more information about Red Mountain Park, visit RedMountainPark.org or Friendsofredmountainpark.org.
