THE PRAYING WARRIOR BENEFIT RACE will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Wooster City Park.  The race is organized by the Praying Ninja Warrior Foundation, a faith driven non-profit organization & is dedicated to supporting children & families facing cancer & other threatening illnesses.

ABOUT THE LOCATION:
The race is just a few hours away.  It is scheduled to begin at 7:30a.m. at Wooster City Park, 20 Parkway Rd, Greenbrier.  Greenbrier is the address, but this address is located in the city limits of the City of Wooster, approximately 1/4 mile west from the Wooster 4-way, off Shaw Bridge Rd.

Wooster City Park is a beautiful “green” park, simply because it is not asphalt, curb & gutter.  The patriotism of the City of Wooster can be seen with the beautiful Military Memorial, the centerpiece of the park.

ABOUT THE RACE:
This is the 7th year of the Praying Ninja Warrior Benefit Race.  The expansion of the race will include a Half Marathon Race, the traditional 5K, & a Virtual Walk/Run race.  The courses are designed to be accessible to runners & walkers of all levels emphasizing community involvement over competition.  Registration will be open in the morning at the park, as well as online.

Wooster City Park now has free Wi-Fi for the public and has three (3) huge 6-speed, remote control fans installed under the main pavilion should you choose the Virtual Walk/Run race or you can race from your own home.  BUT, you must consider the vendor who will be at the park preparing food for you, for it is non-other than the restaurant with the Mission Driven Approach to fight hunger, cooking to serve their craft Mexican food, TACOS 4 LIFE!  PLUS, there will be T-shirt sells going on!

ABOUT THE COURSE/ROUTE:
The 5K is the 3.1 miles race.  It will start at Wooster City Park on Parkway Rd, then east on Shaw Bridge Rd, south at the 4-way on Patton Rd (State Hwy 25), east on Ford Street (the street that runs alongside the gas station, Patton’s One-Stop), crossing Reed Rd (State Hwy 25) onto Church Cir, then south on Robinson Rd  (State Hwy 285 N), back to the 4-way, then west onto Shaw Bridge Rd, then, finally, north on Parkway Rd back to the park.

The Half Marathon is a 13.1 miles race.  It will start at Wooster City Park on Parkway Rd, then ease on Shaw Bridge Rd, south at the 4-way on Patton Rd (State Hwy 25), past the creek and almost up the hill, then west on Auburn Hills Dr, south on Silver Springs Dr, east on Miller Rd, then north on Patton Rd (State Hwy 25), east on Ford St, east on Reed Rd (State Hwy 25) which turns into Green Valley Dr (State Hwy 25), all the way to Sawrie Rd, then north on Sawrie Rd, west on State Hwy 225 W, south onto State Hwy 285 N, which turns into Robinson Rd, once you are back in the city limits of Wooster, then west at the 4-way on Shaw Bridge Rd, then, finally, north on Parkway Rd, back to the park.

PROCEEDS & DONATIONS:
Proceeds for the event go directly toward providing financial assistance, emotional support, & spiritual encouragement.  A place for Donations for the children and their families facing cancer & other threatening illnesses will be provided near the Registration table.  You may also submit online.  There is never enough for these families, so please pray about it and give.

FOUNDER OF THE PRAYING NINJA WARRIOR FOUNDATION:
Nick Apicella, Serving our Lord, Jesus the Christ

MISSION OF THE PRAYING NINJA WARRIOR FOUNDATION:
“Our mission is to PRAY for children living with life threatening illnesses, to INVEST in relationship building with these families, and to SOW hope for the future”

MEMBER OF THE PRAYING NINJA WARRIOR FOUNDATION:
William Broom, Set up race in Wooster, for he is also a First Responder for the Wooster Volunteer Fire Dept

A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY OF WOOSTER:
We welcome The Praying Ninja Warrior Foundation to the City of Wooster.  We take great pride in serving our community in the way they want to be served.  The City of Wooster has donated their time & resources to help support the Ninjas’ mission, for the churches in our entire district are our backbone, our foundation, just as our United States of America was founded upon God, so are we.   It is with great pleasure & honor to be able to share in the Praying Ninja Warrior Benefit Race.  Our churches and members and our community gives thanks to The Praying Ninja Warrior Foundation & their mission to help children and families that are having to deal and live with cancer and other threats.  The City of Wooster will certainly give the Ninjas many more prayer warriors to add to their list.

Writer:
Lisa Vaden for the City of Wooster