Children's Center 2nd Annual Run

Hattiesburg, Miss. - USM may be well-known for its education and sports, but the university is also known for the Children's Center that's on the Hattiesburg campus.

Children’s Center communication coordinator, Samantha McCain said, "This place is the happiest place on earth. Our children are so phenomenal and they are facing and overcoming disabilities and obstacles in their daily walks with communication and developmental issues. The joy that they bring with each milestone that they achieve is overwhelmingly exciting for us and we just love being able to share that story more with the community."

The Children's Center works with kids from ages birth trough five, and one of the ways the center shares its story is by having its annual run.

McCain said "we really wanted to create a signature event that was family-friendly and really opened to the community and was able to raise funds at the same time. Last year it happened, we had over 300 registered participants. It was a great turnout and we're hoping for the same this year."

The second annual Children's Center Classic will include a 10k, 5k, and a one-mile run.

Registration will be available on the day before the race or the day of.

McCain said "community support is imperative to what we do. The children are often in the community services we offer are free. The service happens in the classrooms and sometimes in the home. But, our biggest support is rallying our families around that as well and making sure that our children are at the center of that cause."

The Children's Center will host its second annual run on Feb. 27 and the deadline to pick up a t-shirt is Feb. 17.