Rotary

Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest member Jim Cruickshank is running in the Asheville Marathon & Half at the Biltmore Estate and fundraising to support The Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County.   Cruickshank is also demonstrating Rotary Has Heart, an initiative that promotes community service projects that reflect Rotary International’s Six Areas of Focus (basic education and literacy, economic and community development, disease prevention and treatment, peace and conflict prevention/resolution, water and sanitation, maternal and child health).

Cruickshank has been a runner for about three years and the Asheville Marathon & Half was one of his first big runs.  Dolores Littleson serves on the boards of both Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest and the Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club.  Cruickshank said when Dolores learned he was runner she asked him to run in support of the Boys and Girls Club, one of the named charities for this event.  He said he was happy to fundraise and as a runner had already signed up.

Cruickshank will be running the 13.1 miles in the half marathon on Saturday, March 12.  The run takes place on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate.  This is the third year that Cruickshank has participated in the half marathon.  He says “the first five miles are really challenging as you start running up to the Biltmore House.”  He follows a training schedule and in the last two to three weeks has averaged 25 to 30 miles a week, tapering off in the last week.

Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest has donated $500 to support Cruickshank’s fundraising and the Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club. According to Cruickshank, the run and the named charity tied in well with the Rotary club’s focus and the Rotary Has Heart initiative. “this was an opportunity to support the Boys and Girls Club in another way.”  Cruickshank has already exceeded his fundraising goal of $1,500.  He also has a personal goal for the half marathon – to run it in under two hours and says “Oh – I’ll do it”.

Founded in 1999, The Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club is the largest youth development organization in Transylvania County, the Land of Waterfalls.  The Club serves over 470 children each year through their enriching after-school and summer programs.  Over 200 children call the Club “home” each day.  With programs that focus on Education & Career Development, Health & Wellness,, Character & Leadership, Sports, Fitness & Recreation and the Arts, children at the Club have many opportunities that they might not otherwise have.

Rotary International, the world’s first service club organization, consists of over 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.  Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international projects characterize Rotary worldwide.   Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest meets on Wednesday mornings at 8:00 am at Pisgah Fish Camp.