BISMARCK SANTA RUN:
Running for Recovery and Wellness
The sixth annual Santa Run 5K
was held December 14, on the
North Dakota State Capitol
grounds. The Santa Run is a
festive event to celebrate success
stories of individuals in recovery.
More than 500 santas, elves, and
children, and over 100 volunteers,
participated. Everyone 13-years-
old and over ran in a Santa suit
and sponsors ran as elves. This
year’s guest of honor was 1964
Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills.
Judge David Reich
The Santa Run 5K is organized
by “The Santa Run,” a 501(c)(3) charity, to raise awareness of
addiction issues in the Bismarck community and to raise funds
for entities that assist individuals in recovery from addiction.
The Santa Run sponsors Runners Against Destructive Decisions
(RADD), a running group formed by Judge David Reich in 2014
to provide a healthy lifestyle alternative for individuals in recovery
from addiction. RADD runs three days a week, year-round.
RADD participants set a goal of completing a 5K run or walk and
train with RADD to accomplish that goal. The Santa Run buys
running shoes and pays race entry fees and expenses for RADD
participants who could not otherwise afford those expenses.
In May 2019, RADD volunteers began running with residents at
the Missouri River Correctional Center (MRCC) one weekend each
month. Because the residents did not have running shoes, RADD
collected more than 200 pairs of new and gently used running
shoes for the MRCC running program. In August, more than 100
MRCC residents ran with the organization. RADD runners also
participated in four local races in 2019. RADD sent two runners to
Duluth in June to run the half marathon at Grandma’s Marathon
and sent three runners to Ecuador in October to run a marathon
with Los Angeles Judge Craig Mitchell and the Skid Row Running
Club. In March, RADD runners will travel to Los Angeles to run
with the Skid Row runners in the LA Marathon.
Follow Bismarck Santa Run on Facebook or go to
www.bismarcksantarun.com for more information on how
to participate in or support The Santa Run and RADD.
WINTER 2020
25