By Anne Ruisi
The head of The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs, the nonprofit children’s organization that is the primary beneficiary of the Mercedes-Benz Marathon, said that, while the organization will miss the annual event after its last run in February, her group has lined up events and other ways to raise financial support.
“It’s a loss but we will be fine,” said Jeannie Colquett, The Bell Center’s executive director. “We’re very sad to see the Mercedes Marathon events ending, but we do have a lot of events” during the year to support the organization.
The marathon event raised $175,000 in 2022 and more than $3 million in its history for The Bell Center, according to an event press release.
While The Bell Center has been the main charity beneficiary of the marathon, it’s not the only one. Individuals and nonprofits also register and use their participation in the marathon to raise money for their charity interests, event founder Valerie Cuddy said.
The Mercedes Marathon began in 2001 as a vehicle to raise money for charity. Over the years, the races have attracted more than 200,000 runners, have helped local charities raise in excess of $5 million and have provided more than $60 million in direct economic impact for the Greater Birmingham region, according to the press release.
The marathon has been a Boston Marathon qualifying race and one of few qualifying marathons in the Southeast, making it a major event on the regional running calendar. It also previously hosted U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials.
But event production costs have increased, and financial and other resource support have declined, leading Birmingham Marathon Inc. officials to make the decision to close the marathon after the 2023 run. Now they are considering new events and avenues to support local beneficiaries.
“I’m sad about, it but it’s one of those things. It’s time to move on,” Cuddy said. “It’s been a great event for the city, for the runners.”
Cuddy said she’s grateful for all the support the marathon has received over the years.
“With this being the finale of the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Marathon Weekend of Events, we want to say how tremendously thankful we are of all the support we have received from Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, the community and countless sponsors throughout our more than two decades in existence,” Cuddy said.
The Last of the Marathons
The last Mercedes-Benz Marathon in Birmingham will be run Feb. 10-12.
Events will include the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, kids marathon, Superhero 5K and The Bell Center Children’s Run. Each race begins and ends at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham.
Then there is The Bell Center Children’s Run, a special event that will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 11. The center’s children participate in the last 50 feet of the race route and cross the official finish line, Colquett said. Some will run, some will walk, others will be in strollers pushed by a parent.
The race’s BellRunner program is designed to motivate and support participants who agree to raise $100 per mile for The Bell Center when they run any of the adult races, Colquett said. The program pairs a participant with a child who is receiving life-changing early intervention therapies at The Bell Center, and the runner/walker will train and raise funds in the name of that child.
“It’s a fun way to participate in the last Mercedes Marathon,” Colquett said, adding that each BellRunner will get to wear a photo of The Bell Center child.
The Bell Center, which was founded in 1984, offers programs for children from birth to age 3 who are diagnosed with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, brain injuries, blindness or more than 100 other genetic diagnoses or delays.
Colquett said that, over the years, the organization has developed other events and ways to fund its early intervention services. These include seasonal events such as the Tailgate Challenge in August, and cornhole and golf tournaments and a gala in the spring.
For more information about the marathon, visit mercedesmarathon.com.
