In Vicksburg, we’re lucky to have a number of races throughout our city each year, including the famous three races that make up the Vicksburg Slam.

Chill in the Hills, Run Thru History and Over the River Run each provide a fun, unique twist to their races, drawing crowds from all over the region to Vicksburg.

What’s better, is that each of these races is affiliated with a local nonprofit, Grace Christian Counseling, Vicksburg YMCA and the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation, respectively. It’s great that our community has these opportunities to come together to raise money for such worthy causes.

When giving to a charitable organization or participating in a fundraiser such as a race, it’s important to understand where your money is going and how they’re spending it.

Saturday, participants competing in Run Thru History will be helping the YMCA send a diverse group of teens to the Christian Values Conference held at Blue Ridge Assembly YMCA in North Carolina.

The teens will be able to go for free or for a very reduced rate in exchange for completing community service.

The YMCA’s new executive director Phillip Doiron and his family began taking groups of teens from the Coast where he previously worked a few years ago, and it was a tradition they wanted to bring here to the Vicksburg community.

The experience pushes teens outside of their comfort zones by putting them in assigned family units during the conference where they will meet other teens who are from different places and who have different backgrounds, all while completing community service work. Being surrounded by nature in the North Carolina mountains is another added perk.

So if you’re competing in Run Thru History Saturday, let it be your motivation throughout the course that your participation is directly impacting the youth in the Vicksburg and Warren County community.

We know our local nonprofits are doing good things, but it’s incredible when you’re able to follow your dollar and see the direct impact you’re able to have on people who live, work and worship in your community.