North Coast Challenge To Take Over Crocker Park

North Coast Challenge, a 5-mile race to benefit various charities in  Westlake, has a new home at this year due to construction at and will take place on Sept. 3 at 8 a.m.

“We have raised over $1.4 million for charity over the 20 years. The last two years have been challenging with the economy so tough and most companies cutting back charitable donations,” said Executive Director and Co-Founder Bud Tetzlaff. “This year we expect a significant increase [in attendance] with the new venue of and some new and different marketing.” Last year 1,300 participants and 40 businesses participated.

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) has been North Coast Challenge’s number one recipient. Youth Challenge has also been a large beneficiary. Westlake Fire Department, , , Westlake Kiwanis, and St. John Medical Center’s Community Outreach Services are also among organizations that North Coast Challenge donated to last year. Each year the executive committee decides how to allocate their money, so they’re always considering emerging groups and charities’ new initiatives. “That is the fun part,” said Tetzlaff.

North Coast Challenge began 21 years ago when founders Bud Hagy and Tetzlaff met at a Parks and Recreation meeting. Inspired by the Revco Marathon (now Rite Aid/Cleveland Marathon), they started a similar event called “Celebrate Westlake.”

“Bud and myself, the ‘Two Buds’ started the event and St. John Medical Center was and still is, our founding sponsor,” said Tetzlaff. Later the duo changed the name to “North Coast Challenge” to “appeal to a larger group of runners and walkers,” he said, explaining how the event is not just for Westlake participants and sponsors.

And not only is the event for people outside of Westlake, it’s also for all ages and fitness levels. There will be a two-mile walk and a kids’ fun run in addition to the five-mile race. Top finishers of the five-mile event will receive cash prizes up to $500. All participants will receive food, drink, and a long-sleeve tech shirt. And for those of you who don’t know the lingo of running gear, a tech shirt is a specially designed lightweight shirt that breathes, giving a cooling effect. There will also be a health and fitness expo that will provide information and activities.

So far the race has been publicized in newspaper ads and press releases. Maybe you recognize the name from a mailer too, since they distributed one to every house on the west side. Emails have been sent to all past participants and an eight-page article advertising the event appeared in the September issue of Cleveland Magazine. They also have a Facebook page and a website.

“The management at was happy to step up and host our well-known event for 2011,” Tetzlaff said.

“I think it [the race] is [an institution in Westlake] for several reasons,” he said, some of those being the “flat course, wonderful support from the city, sponsors, volunteers, and 100% of proceeds go to great charities or causes right in Westlake.”