Kiesa Kay
MNJ Contributor
Holland Burleson, age 12, has been bringing awareness to her community even before the day she was born: Her parents, Adam and Brooke Burleson, started the Run for Holland thirteen years ago to support and celebrate people diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome.
“Parents don’t know what to expect when they hear that diagnosis,” Adam said. “We wanted to raise awareness, be a resource, and gain exposure for people with disabilities.”
Run for Holland will happen this year at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, at Riverside Park, 200 East Tappan Street in Spruce Pine. In its 13 years, the Run for Holland Foundation has raised more than $163,000 for projects throughout Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey counties, said Heather Burleson, Holland’s aunt, who is a board member.
“I have seen how much good this race has come into this community,” Heather said. “Every dollar raised gets poured back into the special needs community, and these resources feed into what the classrooms need, making playgrounds sensory and accessible, and much more.”
Run for Holland has supplied funding to many educators, local organizations, and schools, and this year will be a third year for the group’s annual $5,000 donation to Camp Funshine, a free recreational program for people with developmental challenges. Last year could have been the final year for this 5K fundraising run, but Holland stepped forward to advocate for it to continue.
“We almost didn’t do the race after last year,” Adam said. “I am getting more heavily involved in business, the girls are older, and it’s a busy time for all of us. We were going to
announce the end of it last year, but Holland said she wanted this race to be her legacy. God has used Holland and her story to do great things in the community.”
Holland has become involved in the race in many ways, helping with the t-shirt design and encouraging others. For the past two years she has started the race with courage to speak to a public crowd, reading aloud the story of her name and how the race began.
“It has been fun to watch her blossom with confidence,” Heather said.
Holland’s sister, Luca, age 9, also inspires her family, Adam said. She recently enjoyed a play date with a girl at school who’s nonverbal, and they’ve become good friends. She notices people’s strengths.
“Sometimes people are afraid of difference,” Adam said. “My hope has been that because of Run for Holland, other people will have a heart to do what my daughter Luca did.”
The race also brings families and friends together to meet each other and have fun. The race has attracted as many as 300 runners, although the average number is nearer to 150 people. Four track commanders in fast wheelchairs will take the lead at Run for Holland, and the group’s looking for runners to push the race wheelchairs supplied by Speed for Need. The race also actively seeks volunteers to cheer the runners and help with directions along the course.
“It’s a massive blessing to know this race brings people together,” Adam said. “This race celebrates people who often feel unseen.”
Registration costs $30; free for people with special needs. More information is available on the website, www.runforholland.com.