Dog Days Run

East Cobb Rotary's Dog Days Run is our club's primary fundraiser held during the "Dog Days" of summer for eleven consecutive years. This highly visible 5K road race staged at the McClesky YMCA on East Piedmont Road bonds club members in a day of fun, fellowship and fundraising for worthy charities and serves as a means of building awareness in the community about Rotary's brand of humanitarian service. Held on July 30, 2016, this year's event drew 675 runners and more than 100 other participants, including fire fighters and police officers who addressed the crowd before awards were presented and Brigadier General Tom Blackstock of the Georgia National Guard who led all participants in the national anthem just prior to serving as official starter for the race.

Highlights include: - Achieved a new high of $85,029 from 138 sponsors plus 10 sponsors in kind (representing $3,425) - 100% of members participated - Over 775 volunteer hours contributed - Well-publicized (Marietta Daily Journal, East Cobber magazine, street banner, yard signs blanketing every major intersection in East Cobb) - Spectator friendly for families, runners, visitors and dogs - "Rotary Information Station" in the sponsor display area - Attraction of the East Cobb Middle School and Walton High School Robotics Clubs with working, interactive robots - A Family of Rotary event including 7 spouses and 10 children of club members plus a dozen Boy Scouts as volunteers - At race's end Cobb County firefighters manned a water spraying fire truck for cooling runners down as they made the turn toward the finish line - Huge return for only $16,650 in race operation costs

A large portion of funds raised at this event are presented to community organizations at the club's annual "Dog Days Give Back Breakfast" scheduled for March 8, 2017 this Rotary year.