CONTACT: Ken Nelson, APR
863-307-2207 (cell); kenjnelson@yahoo.com

CONTACT: Brian Ososky
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
863-734-1210; bososky@boktower.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2015

Runners/Walkers will Blaze New Trails in 2015 Carillon Classic 5K Run & Walk on Sat., May 2 at Bok Tower Gardens

LAKE WALES, Fla. – Runners and walkers who compete in the 2015 Carillon Classic 5K Run & Walk on Saturday, May 2 at Bok Tower Gardens will literally blaze new trails due to a major course change dictated by a $12 million expansion project now underway at the iconic Florida landmark attraction.

After running the first mile and a half on the original course over the gravel-covered Preserve Trail and a paved road leading to the attraction’s Visitors Center, runners will turn onto the Pine Ridge Nature Trail, which was not used for the first three installments of the Carillon Classic.

While navigating this new part of the course, some of which is shaded by a live oak canopy, runners will experience a unique habitat, which includes a longleaf pine forest, saw palmetto, scrub, sand pine, wire grass, and other rare species that Bok Tower Gardens has successfully preserved. This trail will also give runners and walkers a vantage point for observing progress on new attractions being added to the Gardens, including a children's nature garden, an outdoor kitchen garden, and a Florida bog and wetland area.

The new course promises to challenge runners and walkers alike since it is a bit narrower and has more twists and turns than the original course. The terrain is mostly packed dirt and mulch.

The new portion of the course merges back to the original course at the base of a hill leading up to the famed Singing Tower. Runners who have participated in past races also will notice a significant change in this area where formerly mulch-covered trails have been paved with asphalt as part of the ongoing capital improvement project.

The Carillon Classic offers individual and team competition for adults and students in grades 1 through 12. The registration fee before April 8 is $25 for adults and $15 for students and includes a guarantee of a Carillon Classic 5K dri-fit style t-shirt. After April 8, the fee increases by $5 and the t-shirt cannot be guaranteed. The registration fee also includes a one-day pass to Bok Tower Gardens on race day for runners/walkers and members of their family.

The first, second and third finishers in each age bracket will receive a medal. Runners who wish to compete for additional prizes by joining a team at no extra cost can do so upon registration. The deadline for team registration also is April 8.

For more details on the Carillon Classic 5K, including registration forms for individual and team competition, go to fprapolk.org. Runners and walkers can also register on race day starting at 6:30 am, with the race starting at 7:30 am rain or shine.

Information on the many levels of sponsorship available to potential corporate sponsors – Title, Presenting, Elite, Champion, Sprint and Shelter Supporter – can be obtained from Soderstrom by calling 863-838-9762 (cell) or sending an e-mail to marybeth.soderstrom@careersourcepolk.com. Corporate sponsors can make payments on PayPal at fprapolk.org.

Regular updates on the 2015 Carillon Classic 5K Run & Walk are available by visiting the event page on Facebook at facebook.com/CarillonClassic5kRunWalk.

Now in its fourth year, the Carillon Classic 5K is a charitable event sponsored by the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) in partnership with Bok Tower Gardens, Youth and Family Alternatives (YFA), Inc. and corporate sponsors to raise funds for YFA’s George W. Harris, Jr. Runaway and Youth Crisis Shelter in Bartow and the FPRA chapter’s ed-ucational and professional programs. The first three Carillon Classic 5K’s attracted a combined total of nearly 1,100 runners and walkers, raising more than $11,000 for charity.

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