One of spring time’s premier events is set to occur April 26. It is the Race for Riley fundraiser to benefit The Joseph Sams School in Fayetteville. Spearheaded by Waynette and Rodney Peek, the annual event at Georgia Baptist Children’s Home in Palmetto also raises awareness of Mitochondrial disease.

Now in its fourth year, the event is a testament to Waynette’s determination and the desire by Rodney and Waynette to provide funds for the school that means so much to their daughter. It was after Riley’s diagnosis that Waynette decided to hold the first of what has become an annual Race for Riley fundraiser. The event will feature a 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Run and Tot Trot, along with games for kids, music, food and loads of family fun.

Though proceeds from the initial fundraisers went to United Mitochondrial Fountain, Rodney and Waynette said last year that Joseph Sams should become the recipient of the fundraising efforts due to the significant, ongoing help she receives there.

“Joseph Sams allows her to continue to progress,” Waynette said Monday.

Full of life and one whose smile and bright eyes naturally draws the attention of anyone nearby, six year-old Riley is also a little girl facing many of the challenges that come with Mitochondrial disease. For Riley, those challenges include delayed development, muscle failure, gastrointestinal problems, abnormal brain function and the inability to speak. A tough road for any parent, Rodney and Waynette live with the reality that a diagnosis of Mitochondrial Disease carries a current life expectancy that extends only to late childhood or early adulthood.

The April 26 fundraiser will feature its now customary running events. This year each runner will receive a bag donated by Proctor & Gamble containing up to $50 in company products. Lunch will feature a barbecue plate provided by Friends for Riley at $8 per plate. Another staple of the annual fundraiser will be the live auction, with this year’s offerings centering on plenty of furniture, Waynette said. The grounds at Georgia Baptist Children’s Home will also be the venue for inflatable activities for the kids, face painting, pony rides, breakfast by Chik-fil-A and, in the skies overhead, a fly-over by a vintage aircraft.

The 5K Run/Walk begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 1 Mile Run at 9:15 a.m. and the Tot Trot at 9:30 a.m. Pre-registration is $20 with event day registration at $25. Pre-registration no later then April 17 is encouraged. Check or money orders should be made payable to The Joseph Sams School. For more information or to register visit www.raceforriley.org or contact Waynette at waynette@raceforriley.org

Race for Riley will be held on the grounds of Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, located in Palmetto at 9250 Hutcheson Ferry Road. The primary sponsors for the 2008 Race for Riley include Proctor & Gamble, Minerva Properties, Serenbe, A New Start Counseling Center and CH2M Hill.

The Race for Riley is an important, heavily attended event filled with fun for every member of the family. It is a multifaceted outdoor event that each year provides a good time combined with a fundraising and an awareness-raising objective. But more than anything else, the Race for Riley is a celebration of life, born in a testimony of love.

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