- This event has passed.
Santa Barbara Runners Participate in Thursday’s World Refugee Day Virtual 5k
June 20, 2019 @ 6:00 am PDT
A group of Santa Barbara runners are welcoming the community to come together for a World Refugee Day 5k “shadow run” in Santa Barbara on Thursday, June 20. Beginning at 6:00pm participants will head out from Topa Topa Brewing Company in the Funk Zone for a casual, group 5k, followed by drink specials and music.
The group run is free to attend and participants are encouraged to RSVP on the Santa Barbara Shadow Run’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/821613904887739/
Participants may also register for a virtual 5k or donate to the American Refugee Committee (ARC) at https://www.worldrefugeeday5k.com.
The third annual World Refugee Day 5k in Uganda takes place on June 20 in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement. This one-of-a-kind run brings together over 1,000 participants, refugees and supporters alike, and professional athletes. For the first time, runners anywhere in the world can support this event by joining the ARC virtually and at shadow runs similar to the one hosted in Santa Barbara.
The virtual component of the World Refugee Day 5k is supported by Soul Focus Sports, an event production and marketing agency, who’s founder, J.T. Service, is a Gaucho alum and 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. J.T. is making his first trip to Uganda, helping support the production of the live event.
“We believe that sport can change lives and the ARC is helping bring purpose to refugees in Uganda and throughout the world,” commented Service. “We’re inviting runners everywhere, including in Santa Barbara, to join ARC in this inspirational journey. It’s fantastic to see a Shadow Run come together in a city near and dear to my heart.”
You can learn more about J.T.’s journey here: https://www.soulfocussports.com/our-work/2019/5/21/just-a-little-more
To share and follow along the event use hashtags #WorldRefugeeDay5k #WRD5k.