By Helen Borland / Staff

Friends of the King family with the Roswell Recreation and Parks Department, Roswell High School Soccer Club and the Rally Foundation have joined forces to honor the memory of Merrill King and her love of cross-country and soccer.

Just days before her 16th birthday in February, King died of leukemia. Those who loved and knew her wish to honor and remember her with the Merrill King's Fit 4 Fall race on Saturday, August 14 at Roswell High School, 11595 King Road in Roswell. The money raised will go to the non-profit Rally Foundation to support childhood cancer research and find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects for children with cancer.

Pre-registration for $20 is available until Thursday, August 12th. After that date the fee will be $25. Registration and packet pick up will be available from 6:30 to 7:30 the morning of the race. At 7:45 a.m. Mayor Jere Wood will declare August 14 Merrill King Day in Roswell. The race/walk begins at 8:00 a.m.

There are two ways to register in advance, one way is online and the other is to print out a form and mail it.  Go to the website www.rungeorgia.com/merrill5k.html for both forms.  There is a choice of a 5K race or a 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk. The 5K course is a scenic route from Roswell High School north on King Road to Kent Road. From there, runners will head east on Kent to Etris Road and turn head southeast when they get to Hardscrabble Road. The last turn heads southwest back to the school. The terrain is mostly flat with a few slightly rolling hills. All crossroads will be supervised by Roswell police and only one lane of these roads will be open to traffic during the race.

Awards will be given to the top male and female competitors in each age group.  People who wish to participate but not run can register as a Phantom Runner to donate funds and receive an official race T-shirt. Walkers with dogs on leashes are welcome.   

Many business people have gotten involved and donated items as well as volunteers to support the fight against childhood cancer. One of them is Joel Libowsky, owner of Jeckil Promotions, a business that creates custom-branded items. Libowsky has a nephew with cancer and has donated 500 Race Day t-shirts to Merrill King's Fit 4 Fall 5K and Fun Run.

Forty-five volunteers are coming from Cbeyond, a broadband, mobile voice and data, IT, and business phone service provider. They have also donated thousands of dollars to help sponsor this event.

Many other businesses have donated water, food and other items necessary to have a successful run.

For more information, contact Donna Cobb at 404- 840-6798.