More than 500 runners and walkers took part in the 10th annual Santa Run .
SANTA RUN CELEBRATES 10 TH ANNIVERSARY
By Katie Winbauer
The Santa Run celebrated its 10th anniversary on Dec . 9 , 2023 . The Santa Run is a very visual event created to bring attention to the pervasive problem of addiction in our society in a positive way . The Santa Run is a joy-filled event in which more than 500 registrants run in Santa suits while sponsors run as elves . There are carolers , cheer groups , and inflatables along the course and delicious post-run snacks .
Several of the runners are in recovery and participate in the RADD ( Runners Against Destructive Decisions ) running group formed in 2014 by Judge David Reich in an effort to stop the cycle of addiction , crime , and jail he found repeating itself in his courtroom . The Santa Run is a 501 ( c )( 3 ) charity . Proceeds from the Santa Run 5K are used to purchase running shoes and pay race entry fees for RADD participants . Proceeds are also shared with other entities that support recovery , including the Hope Manor sober living homes and Drug Court .
Not thinking about celebrating a 10th anniversary , Judge Reich was hoping for 50 to 75 participants for the inaugural Santa Run in 2014 . Forty-degree temperatures helped to push that number to around 350 and a new annual event was born . The theme of the Santa Run is one of hope . The invocation read each year at the event is a poem entitled “ We Run as One .” When we all don Santa suits , or when we put on our running gear , you cannot tell who is in recovery and who is a volunteer . We are all just runners and we support each other .
The RADD program and the Santa Run are still here after 10 years , as are the ongoing issues of addiction and recovery . Supporting
Members of the Big Muddy Bar Association were among many volunteers at the Santa Run .
addiction recovery takes a village . RADD and the Santa Run survive and thrive with the help of gracious volunteers and generous sponsors . The hope is by building personal relationships and providing an opportunity to engage in a healthy activity , people can get their addiction stabilized , build up some self-esteem , and be successful in their recovery . You can find more information on the Santa Run and RADD at https :// www . bismarcksantarun . com / radd .
Santa Run participants and volunteers enjoyed a large Santa snow sculpture crafted by Team ND Snow Sculpting .
14 THE GAVEL
Judge David Reich spoke to race participants prior to the Santa Run about the mission of the event .