• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Lights of Love 5K Breaks Records for Children and Their Families

December 11, 2012 by Eric Highland 1 Comment

Caleb's Army Keri Bellacosa Lights of Love 5K

Keri Bellacosa interviews Caleb from Caleb’s Army, the top fundraising team this year

As night fell on December 7th, 3,500 people gathered in and around the Mueller Hangar off Airport Blvd. They had one thing in common: they were all there to support one extremely worthwhile cause here in Austin. Age didn’t matter; heart did.

Costumes, lights and good spirits abounded as the stage was set for the 5th annual Lights of Love 5K. This is one of the major fundraising initiatives that keeps the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin open and active throughout the year.

Communications Manager Jan Gunter asked us to share in the night’s excitement by live tweeting the event. At the Austinot, we love the mission of the Ronald McDonald House and readily agreed to come out and show our support in any way we could!

Holiday Spirits Were High at the Lights of Love 5K in Austin

Holiday Craft Table Lights of Love 5K

Holiday craft table for kids

As we entered the hangar, past the food and race team tents, we were thrilled to see so many people in the holiday spirit. Costumes ranged from one team sporting reindeer antlers to another fully decked out in striped stockings, neon tutus and Santa hats. Hot chocolate and coffee were in hand, and a massive cake from Bountiful Bakery was on site for the post-race celebration.

Fox 7 News anchor Keri Bellacosa was the emcee for the evening, a fireball of energy who worked tirelessly from the stage. Beyond making the standard announcements, Keri took the time to personalize the event and share the stories of people who have been impacted by the services of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin. Keri’s touching interviews with these families and their little ones highlighted the real reason that we had all gathered together.

Santa walked by and gave me a wink as I settled into my spot in the Mueller Hangar to begin live tweeting the event. Using the hashtag #RMHC5K, a team of live tweeters joined us in our efforts to get the word out to the Twittosphere about the festivities.

View From the Starting Line

Ronald McDonald Stretching for Lights of Love 5K

Ronald McDonald leads stretches before the Family Fun Run

While I covered the action in the Hangar, Austinot Brittany joined the crowd at the starting line for the Family Fun Run, an event designed for families to participate in together. Ronald McDonald himself was at the starting line, leading the excited participants in stretching exercises!

Once the Family Fun Run had concluded, the Lights of Love 5K began. The Mueller Hangar, which had been bustling with activity just moments earlier, emptied out almost instantly. Everyone had gone to witness the start of the 5K. A wide variety of runners approached the starting line. Professional and casual runners from all age ranges awaited the official start.

Kent Burress Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin

RMHC Executive Director Kent Burress introduces the Lights of Love 5K

And then they were off…

Lights of Love 5K in Austin

Lights of Love 5K 2012 Results

As I wrote this article, I scoured the Internet to find the results of the race. Who won? The competitive spirit in me wanted to know.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, that which is plainly obvious to everyone else: the winners of the race are the families and children who directly benefit from the services that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin provides. We’re excited to report that this was a record-breaking year for Lights of Love. Nearly $245,000 has been raised so far, the most ever, and 3,500 participants pitched in to help – also a record!

Sure, the runners who finished at the top are to be commended, but even they would probably point to the cause and say, “There’s your winner.” Bravo to all of the runners and volunteers for this year’s event, and a big thank you to all of this year’s sponsors.

You have all made a difference that is truly tangible here in Austin.

Merry Christmas. -Eric and Brittany

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
RMHC Austin
RMHC Austin
10 years ago

Eric and Brittany – you are absolutely right that the winners are the families!! That is the essence of this fabulous event, and you nailed it on the head! It was fun to be with you two at the Lights of Love 5K, and we so appreciate your sharing our story with your savvy readers. Thanks for live tweeting, having a good time and helping us support families with hospitalized children. You two are the best!
Jan

0
Reply

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of February 20 | Get Your Rear in Gear

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of February 24, 2023 include Get Your Rear in Gear, Manual Cinema: Leonardo!, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of February 24, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Get Your Rear in Gear, Manual Cinema: Leonardo!, Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend of February 24 - Cupid's Undie Run

11 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of February 24, 2023 include Cupid’s Undie Run, Austin Oyster Festival, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of February 24 which include Cupid’s Undie Run, 2023 Austin Oyster Festival, Nosferatu Festival 2023, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. Deal Alert – […]

Things to do in Austin this week of February 20 | Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of February 20, 2023 include Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil, National Margarita Day Party Bus Tour, and more!

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of February 20, 2023, include Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil, Mardi Gras Murder Mystery Dinner, National Margarita Day Party Bus Tour, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days […]

Austin Valentine's Day 2023 - Best events, parties and celebrations near you

Austin Valentine’s Day 2023 – Best events, parties and celebrations near you

Every year, it gets harder to miss the cues of Cupid’s arrival when Valentine’s Day comes around the corner. The local eateries draw chalk hearts next to their Daily Specials, arrows start sticking out of engorged heart balloons and the internet starts getting populated with V-Day Event Diaries. How do you find reliable, vetted, and […]

Huge List of Unforgettable Austin Date Spots

Date Ideas Austin – 20 romantic things to do during day and night!

Recently I found myself wrapped up in one of those fleeting moments of self-empowerment, tickled by a craving for adventure. Interested in re-entering the dating pool, but also daunted by how exhausting the process can be, I decided the only way to start dating was to cannonball in. So I created a challenge for myself: […]

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of February 24, 2023 include Get Your Rear in Gear, Manual Cinema: Leonardo!, and more!
  • 11 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of February 24, 2023 include Cupid’s Undie Run, Austin Oyster Festival, and More!
  • National Margarita Day Austin: Verified Deals For 2023 Near You
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of February 20, 2023 include Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil, National Margarita Day Party Bus Tour, and more!
  • Gluten Free Bakery Austin – Where to find gluten-free donuts, cakes, breads, & more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of February 24, 2023 include Get Your Rear in Gear, Manual Cinema: Leonardo!, and more!
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • 9 Lap Swimming Spots Around Austin
  • 11 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of February 24, 2023 include Cupid’s Undie Run, Austin Oyster Festival, and More!
  • 8 of Austin’s Most Dog-Friendly Patios

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz