USM Childrenâs Center cheers on Hattiesburg Half Marathon runners Staff members with USM s Children s Center for Communication and Development encourage runners participating in the Hattiesburg Half Marathon Saturday. (Source: WDAM) By Charles Herrington | April 10, 2021 at 6:38 PM CDT - Updated April 10 at 6:39 PM
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - One of the nonprofit organizations that benefited from the Hattiesburg Half Marathon, 10K and 5K held Saturday offered some very special encouragement to runners who were participating.
The staff of the Childrenâs Center for Communication and Development at the University of Southern Mississippi gathered at the Armstrong-Branch Plaza at USM to cheer on race participants.
Hundreds of runners will be taking over Hattiesburg s streets Saturday for the Hattiesburg Half Marathon, 10K and 5K.
The half marathon will begin at 7 a.m. in front of Saenger Theater and end at the same place.
From approximately 6 a.m. until noon Saturday, there will be street closures in downtown Hattiesburg, The Oaks, Parkhaven, Longleaf Heights and around The University of Southern Mississippi.
A total of 1,385 people have signed up to participate, according to organizers.
The Pinebelt Foundation is hosting the event, in its 10th year, and it is sponsored by Forrest General Hospital and other local businesses.
The event is focusing on the philanthropic impact by offering a charity runner option. Charity Runners can choose one of 14 selected agencies in the Pinebelt region for which to raise money and awareness for its mission.