Each spring for the past 14 years, runners and families have gathered for the Purity Dairies Moosic City Dairy Dash, a 5K/10K race in Nashville. While the runners certainly enjoy the chocolate milk and ice cream at the race鈥檚 end, the real beneficiary is a local organization who depends on community support.
鈥淲e put on the race to help people,鈥� said Mark Ezell, President and GM of Purity Dairies. 鈥淧urity has been so blessed with loyal support鈥攖his is our natural response to give back, to make a difference in the community.鈥�
While a different organization is selected each year as the beneficiary, 2014 was the ideal year for the race committee to choose Monroe Carell Jr. Children鈥檚 Hospital at 菠萝视频: both the race and the hospital are experiencing growth.听
Due to the hard work of the race committee, great support from dedicated sponsors and a fun-filled race day, the Dairy Dash has grown into one of the top five largest 5K/10K races in Middle Tennessee.听 As the proceeds from the race reach their highest levels ever, the $60,000 contribution from the Dairy Dash helped kick off fundraising efforts for the hospital鈥檚 Growing to New Heights Campaign. This campaign is helping fund a four-floor expansion that will enable Children鈥檚 Hospital to provide care to more children.
鈥淐hildren鈥檚 Hospital is so worthy of our support,鈥� said Ezell. 鈥淣o other place in the state has the expertise and level of specialty care that Children鈥檚 Hospital does. It is a wonderful asset to our community to have doctors, nurses and staff that are so devoted to children.鈥�
For Mark Ezell and his wife, Martha鈥攚ho serves on the Children鈥檚 Hospital Board鈥攖he relationship with Children鈥檚 Hospital runs deep. In addition to the corporate relationship with Purity Dairies, the Ezell鈥檚 son, Taylor, had a life-saving brain surgery when he was 15 years old. Now 10 years later, Taylor is married and thriving. And like many young children, their granddaughter, Annabelle, also had a recent trip to the emergency room and is doing well today.听
鈥淢onroe Carell Jr. was a dear friend and mentor. We felt his passion for Children鈥檚 Hospital and know how blessed Nashville is to have this hospital,鈥� said Ezell.