Jackson Free Press

With winter letting go at long last and summer on the horizon, we can all finally go outside again without worrying about freezing our butts off. And with the new season comes another reason to get outside and do something—5Ks.

If running more than three miles with a crowd doesn't make you happy, maybe contributing to a good cause will. Most 5Ks are held with fundraising in mind. Here are some of the 5Ks coming to Jackson in the next few months, and a few others around the state that sound like they might be too much fun to pass up.

"A Better Me One Step at a Time" 5K Walk/Run

Saturday, April 25, the Cade Chapel M.B. Church's Cade Chapel Nate Ruffin Scholarship Board will present the "A Better Me Step A" 5K Walk/Run. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., and the race begins at 7 a.m. The course begins and ends at Cade Chapel M.B. Church (1000 Ridgeway W.). While pre-registration ended April 19, the cost is $25 on the day of the race and includes a commemorative T-shirt. The deadline for registration is 6:45 a.m. on the day of the race. Those who already registered can pick up packets April 24 at Cade Chapel M.B. Church from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The proceeds will fund scholarships for upcoming Jackson Public Schools and metro-area high-school seniors. Since 2004, the board has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to more than 100 graduates. For more information, visit cadechapel.org.

MORA Racing for Donation 8K Run/Walk and Celebration of Life Picnic

The fourth annual Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency's Racing for Donation 8K Run/Walk is Saturday, April 25, at MORA (4400 Lakeland Drive, Flowood, 601-933-1000). The race begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes a run, walk and a one-mile kids' fun run. After the race, the Celebration of Life Picnic begins. The event will have a bounce house and Kid's Fun Zone, music from Chris Gill and the Sole Shakers, door prizes, health screenings, Hungry Howie's Pizza, and more. The cost for the walk and run is $30; $20 for teams; and $10 for the fun run. For more information, visit racingfordonation8K.com.

March for Babies

The 2015 March for Babies is Saturday, April 25, on the east lawn of Renaissance at Colony Park (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, 601-519-0900). Registration begins at 7 a.m., and the race starts at 8 a.m. This year, March of Dimes, the race's host, will celebrate 75 years of improving the babies' health. For more information, visit marchforbabies.org.

Magnolia Meltdown

The Magnolia Meltdown returns on May 9 to benefit the St. Dominic Community Health Clinic, an organization that provides medical services to those who can't afford health insurance. The race begins at 7 a.m. at The Club at Township (340 Township Ave., Ridgeland). The Meltdown includes a half marathon ($55), 10K ($35), a 5K ($35) and a one-mile fun run ($15). For more information, visit magnoliameltdown.com.

Color Me Rad

You may have registered for the ElectroDash 5K scheduled for March 27. If so, you probably got an email saying that the race had been cancelled. The Jackson Free Press even put together a team for race. But fret not. The race's sponsor, Color Me Rad, returns to Jackson on Saturday, Oct. 31. For more information, visit colormerad.com.

Does your organization have a race scheduled? Email [email protected] to add the race to the JFP events calendar.