The Rotary Club of Farmville drew around 150 runners Saturday, Nov. 2, to its first-ever Rotary Runs event that was held at Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC).

Participants representing a variety of ages and college students representing a variety of institutions ran, walked or mixed both modes of travel to complete a 5K, and a small group of children participated in a 1-mile run/walk to help the Farmville Rotary Club raise money for its Access to College project.

Jennifer Kinne, secretary for the Farmville Rotary Club Board, noted that the project does a variety of important things, including helping Prince Edward County High School (PECHS) seniors prepare for taking the SAT and ACT tests. The rotary purchased 20 test prep books that are now in the high school library, meeting a major need.

The project also helps students with things like filling out college applications and helps pay for fees, including those related to college applications, SAT and ACT tests and organized college visits, Kinne said.

She stated that when Hampden-Sydney College gave a substantial monetary contribution to the project, H-SC President Dr. Larry Stimpert highlighted a desire to make sure the rotary’s partnership with PECHS involved more than just providing a check but was ultimately about building a relationship between the organizations.

“Helping to make those connections is important and something that we’re trying to do with many community organizations,” Kinne said.

Not including those who registered on Nov 2., Kinne noted that the Rotary Runs event had raised more than $12,000 for the club’s Access to College project.

Total, there were more than 300 people in attendance at Rotary Runs, including two bands, others helping run the event and families of the 5K and 1-mile participants.