NWA gears up for Race for the Cure, RazorFest, and Run for the Roses

The coming weeks include no shortage of great events for the Northwest Arkansas Region. They will include Komen's Race for the Cure, RazorFest, NWACC's Plant a Seed Gala, the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County's Great Futures Gala, and the JDRF "Run for the Roses" Hope Gala.

Komen Ozark 'Race for the Cure'
Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall will transform into a sea of pink on Apr. 25 as Komen Ozark hosts its 17th annual Race for the Cure.

The event will include competitive 5K and 10K races, as well as several non-competitive activities. Festivities will kick off with a Survivor Breakfast beginning at 6:45 a.m. in the Food Pavilion. The 10K will start at 7:30 a.m., followed by the official opening ceremonies at 7:45 a.m. The competitive 5K will follow at 8 a.m., with the Survivor Parade at 8:05 a.m., and the non-timed 5k at 8:30 a.m. A one-mile family fun walk will start at 9 a.m. Both the 10K and 5K are chip-timed, with the courses being USATF certified. An awards presentation ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m.

Teams and individuals may register online. Proceeds benefit Komen Ozark which funds breast cancer research. For more information, call Komen Ozark at 750-7465.

RazorFest
Champions for Kids' RazorFest will return on April 25. In its 10th year, the free family event will include a full day of activities for Razorback fans of all ages including health and wellness zones, games, inflatables, concerts, autographs, giveaways, food, and more.

The fun will get underway at 9 a.m. at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Thousands of visitors will take advantage of the numerous booths, games, and vendors that will be set up throughout the area. RazorFest goers will also enjoy the chance to meet the mascot, learn about local non-profits and give back by participating in the food drive, which supports area food banks. All guests are encouraged to bring canned goods to help organizers reach their goal of collecting 5,000 pounds of food.

RazorFest fun will wrap-up at 12:30 p.m., just in time for the start of the infamous Red-White Game at 1 p.m.  =Admission to the event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 582-2008.

Plant a Seed Gala
The NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) Foundation will host  its 12th annual "Plant a Seed Gala" on April 30 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center.

This year's event will feature dinner, live music, and special presentations. The general reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and general program at 6:45 p.m.
Gala proceeds benefit NWACC student scholarships. For ticket or sponsorship information, contact the Foundation Office at 619-4184 or by email at [email protected]

Great Futures Gala
The Boys & Girl Club of Benton County will host its 21st annual "Great Futures Gala" on May 1.

Presented by Unilever, the event is co-hosted by Jimmy Dykes, University of Arkansas head women’s basketball coach and former sportscaster for ESPN and ABC Sports, and his wife Tiffany. It will be held at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers and will include dinner, as well as a live auction and raffle. Entertainment will be provided by the popular group, Chasin’ Crazy.

Individual tickets are $125 and can be purchased online. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 273-7187.

JDRF Hope Gala-Run for the Roses
The Northwest Arkansas Branch of JDRF will present its ninth annual Hope Gala on May 2. With a "Run for the Roses" theme, the event will feature a Kentucky Derby theme, including food, drinks, raffles and more.

Guests will also enjoy LIVE music, a signature derby raffle, live and silent auctions, and a VIP bourbon. Gala-goers are encouraged to wear their best derby inspired attire for the event. A hat contest featuring prizes for Best Hat, Best Derby Inspired, Most Outrageous, and Most Glamorous will also be held.

Tickets for two are $400 and can be purchased online. All proceeds benefit the Northwest Arkansas Branch of JDRF which is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.

The gala will be held at Horton Farms in Fayetteville beginning at 4 p.m.  For more information, call 443-2692.