The last week in August is an extremely exciting week in Columbus, Georgia because August 29th will mark the 29th Annual Midnight run.

Over 2000 runners, thousands of spectators, and bunches of sponsors gather each year for this event to support the visually impaired. While the 5K race is run at midnight, the festivities begin way before dark. The local motorcycle community will crank up the activities with a charity poker run that begins and ends at Country’s on Mercury Drive.

From there, the party continues with live bands and PTAP’s 4th annual car show. There will be cheerleaders from CSU putting on demonstrations and Best Buy should be there with a giant screen version of Guitar Hero.  Gold’s Gym always shows up with lots of cool stuff.  In addition there are many great vendors that show up with their wares. The bands crank up at 8 PM — performing this year will be Levi Rose (from Nashville) and Classic Attic a local favorite.  There will be one more band as yet unnamed.  As the race is a great experience all in itself, it is only one of the many events scheduled that people can come and enjoy while also helping the visually impaired.  If you haven’t seen all the kids under the hose spray from the ladder truck of the Columbus Fire Department — well you ain;t seen nothin.

The beep ball game, which is always held at 7:00 p.m. on the CSU softball fields the Friday night before the Midnight run, is a great deal of fun. It is an honor to have the World Championship beep ball team, the Chicago Comets, returning again this year to help in the efforts to raise funds for the visually impaired. If you have never watched a game of beep ball, you need to make sure you put this on your calendar!

The sponsors of the midnight run join together as the team that “tries” to compete against the traveling team of beep ball players. Of course; this game is played with a twist, the sponsors play blindfolded! If you don’t think this event sounds like a great deal of fun to watch, just put on a blindfold and try to run a straight line. Okay, now envision trying to bat, field a ball, or run to a base blindfolded! The beep ball game is one of the most important events of the Midnight run. Not only do the sponsors supply a whole bunch of laughs, but this event provides the much needed awareness to the sponsors of the Midnight Run as well as the spectators that attend this event. The beep ball game is one reason many of the sponsors have given the same continued support each year. If running is not for you, another midnight express activity that is back by popular demand is the golf tournament.

This golf tournament will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at Maple Ridge golf course. The first nine holes of this tournament will be played similar to other tournaments; however, it is during the dinner activities and last nine holes when this tournament becomes like no other! Great prizes will be awarded to the winners of the closest to the pin and putting contests. The difference with these games is each player will be blindfolded! This allows the sighted players and spectators to really put being visually impaired into perspective. The second nine holes will continue to increase awareness and excitement by playing these holes in the dark with Nitelite golf balls.

With all the support over the past years, we have been able to raise over $200,000 for this worthy and often overlooked cause. With these funds, a few of the ways we have directly affected the visually impaired is through the donation of a ventilator that prevents blindness in premature babies to the Children’s Miracle Network; the purchase multiple pieces of equipment for the grade schools to include a specialized copy machine, a total graphics solution package, a digital imaging system, and laptop computers equipped with Jaws software; and provide scholarships that allow visually impaired students to continue their education at the college level. Our long term goal is to equip Columbus State and other regional colleges with technologies beneficial to the visually impaired. We have also been able to support our veterans through the Blinded Veterans Association. Again, thank you for your support in the efforts to help the visually impaired.

Our goals are high and your support is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions regarding the 28th Annual Midnight Express activities please contact Scott at (706) 366-4416 or Henry at (706) 326-2033. Please remember 100% of sponsorship money is given back to the visually impaired and is tax deductible through the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley (501 C3). We hope to see you at the festivities!