Marathoner raises money for children's camps
By Turner Walston
Published in News on February 22, 2005 2:23 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Becky Johnson laced up her sneakers two weeks ago in an effort to send less fortunate children to summer camp.
Johnson, a student at Wayne Community College, spends her summers working at Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe.
Two weeks ago, she ran the Memorial Health Tybee Marathon as part of Seafarer's 'Run a Kid to Camp' program.
More than 40 Seafarer staff members raised $500 each by writing letters to potential sponsors. The money raised will go directly to the Campership Endowment, which offers scholarships to campers that otherwise might not be able to attend.
That cause motivated Johnson to hit the pavement. "There's some kind of magic that happens at camp, and I wanted to have the opportunity to share that with less fortunate children."
Johnson, who is the daughter of Cynthia Johnson and a graduate of Eastern Wayne High School, trained since November for the race, and said she hopes to run again next year. "I never would have done it for myself. I don't enjoy running," Johnson joked.
About $100,000 has been raised in the five years since 'Run a Kid to Camp' began. Last year,more than 2,000 children and families experienced camp at Seafarer and its brother camp, Camp Sea Gull, thanks to the contributions made to the camps.