Yellowjacket Soccer, Eagle Mount Readying for
Annual “Run to Red Lodge” (Apr. 20, 2005)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State University-Billings soccer teams have joined with Eagle Mount again this spring for the third annual “Run to Red Lodge.”  The run will be held on Friday, May 6 and cover 60 miles from Billings to Red Lodge.  The event raises funds and public awareness for Eagle Mount and the MSU Billings soccer programs.

The event is a 60-mile relay run beginning at Meadowlark Elementary School and ending in the center of the resort town of Red Lodge.  Runners will include members of the MSU Billings soccer teams, MSU Billings Athletics staff, and Eagle Mount staff.  Each runner will run a leg of the total mileage. 

Eagle Mount is a nonprofit organization that serves over 500 children and adults with disabilities.  With a corps of nearly 500 volunteers, Eagle Mount helps eliminate the barriers that prevent disabled people from participating in everyday sports and recreational activities.  Eagle Mount participants have a range of disabilities, including neuromuscular, spinal cord, orthopedic, and developmental as well as visual and hearing impairments.  Their experiences at Eagle Mount increase self-esteem, confidence, physical development, active involvement in community life, and fun with family and friends.

In addition to the relay portion of the fundraiser, the MSU Billings soccer teams will conduct two soccer clinics on the day of the run.  The first clinic will be held at Meadowlark Elementary School from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.  The second clinic will immediately follow the run from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Doug Brown Field in Red Lodge.

Yellowjacket Soccer and Eagle Mount are currently seeking contributions for the “Run to Red Lodge” project.  Donors may pledge any amount per mile of the run (i.e., a $1 pledge would be a $60 donation).  All donations are tax deductible and will go toward improving the quality of both the Eagle Mount and MSU Billings soccer programs.  For more information or to make a pledge, contact Lynn Mullowney at 406-245-5422 or Don Trentham at 406-657-2373.

Also involved with the “Run to Red Lodge” for the third consecutive year are eight local sponsors whose contributions have been critical to the success of the program.  Those sponsors are Comfort Inn of Red Lodge, First Interstate Bank, Hank’s Place of Red Lodge, The Base Camp, Ricci’s Thriftway of Laurel, Rocky Fork Graphics of Red Lodge, and Thrifty Car Rental.