BELPRE - The River City Runners and Walkers Club has been a big help in the Mid-Ohio Valley and one person who understands that quite well is Rick Epperly. Come 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, the seventh annual John Epperly Memorial Belpre Scholarship Run will take place. "The way it started a few years ago was when the River City Runners Club started this program wanting to award a scholarship to somebody in all the neighborhood schools," Epperly said. "Everybody was doing it but Belpre and they kept leaning on me to put on a race and make it a scholarship race. That's how it all started and because of this race a Belpre student is eligible for a scholarship." Belpre runner Breydon Gates, who will be attending Shawnee State as a student-athlete, was the recipient of this year's $1,200 scholarship. "I think the winners have always appreciated it," Epperly said of the scholarship, which is presented to the winner in the form of a check and can be used for expenses as the student sees fit. "It's an honor for my dad. "He gave over 30 years of his life to education at Belpre and Wood County. I think, overall, he had 39 years in Belpre and the Wood County education system. I just hate for that to go unrecognized. He was known a lot for his discipline. Everybody was in line when he was in charge." Participants are urged to register early for this summer's race. Entry fee for the 4-mile run or the 2-mile walk is $10 if received before July 11. The cost is $15 thereafter and on race day. Plaques, mixing glasses, personalized T-shirts and cooldown towels will be awarded to overall winners. The age group awards will be 16-ounce mixing glasses with the race logo printed on them. Also, there will be free kids races, which will run on the track following the last 4-mile finisher. Epperly wants to make sure the public is aware the race will use Putnam Howe Drive and Hocking Road for the west/east portions of the race and Belrock Avenue. The north/south portions of the race will use both Braun Road and Hocking Road. Motorists are asked to avoid these areas on race day. Packet pickup and race day registration will begin at 7 a.m. in the Lawton Gym. Applications for the race are available at rivercityrunners.com or more information may be obtained via email at rick0528@suddenlink.net or by calling (740) 336-9865.
