That a program with such a strong championship history is on the verge of elimination is scary - but the running community has a chance to do something about it.
PUUUSH! MOOOOVE! KIIIIICK! We've all heard coaches imploring their distance runners to close out the last lap as hard as possible. We know how hard it is to double down on your effort, to go hard when you've already been going hard for so long. That's what separates victory from disappointment, though - the willpower to push to the end.
Let's be honest - the folks at Save UNCW Track have come farther than a lot of people ever believed they would. They have raised nearly $190,000 to try to prevent the elimination of the track & field programs at the university, but the job isn't finished yet. Representatives of the group are reaching out to all corners of the running community in an effort to make their final push toward the $250,000 goal set for them by the university's athletic leadership.
They don't have to get all the way there - officials in the athletic department have confirmed that the amount is not a hard figure, and they have indicated that fundraising could continue beyond the May 31st deadline if the group is close to their target. Save UNCW Track feels that they need to get to at least $225,000 by the end of the month, and that is why they are making a final push for donations. Individuals can make contributions through PayPal, and in exchange for contributions of certain amounts they can be eligible for prizes like Panthers tickets and vacation packages.
If you want to see UNCW's track & field program continue to provide a college home for so many of our state's high school athletes, you are encouraged to visit the Save UNCW Track website to see how you can help. The dedicated supporters of the program are on the final lap of the race, and they need all the support they can get to finish strong!