Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Groups race to rebuild coast before season begins
By Catherine McFayden
Daily Mississippian (U. Mississippi)
04/24/2006

(U-WIRE) OXFORD, Miss. — Hurricane season is rapidly approaching and Mississippi Gulf Coast residents are still working to rebuild the damage caused by last year's record hurricane season.

Macey Edmonson, public services law librarian and instructor of legal research at the University of Mississippi Law School is helping to organize an effort to help continue rebuilding the Mississippi Coast.

The project that Edmonson is working on is the Race to Rebuild, a 10-K run and 2-mile fun run that will take place on June 17 in D'Iberville, beginning at the D'Iberville Farmer's Market Pavilion at 8:30 a.m.

"Myself and my friends wanted to come up with a way to help the Coast rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, even though we are all spread out and live in different areas," Edmonson said. "The Mississippi coast is still trying to pick up the pieces from Hurricane Katrina and will be for years. The entire coastline was washed away.

"This is just one way to get involved."

She said the group has collected approximately $2,000 for the Build Back the Coast Fund, but has set a goal of about $10,000.

Victoria Wood, an employee at the Build Back the Coast Organization, said the organization will give the proceeds from the race to other non-profit organizations along the coast.

"We disburse funds to other non-profit groups in the community," Wood said.

"The profits from the race will benefit groups like the Boys and Girls Club, the American Red Cross, the New Hope Center and other schools and non-profit groups."

Local sponsors of Race to Rebuild include Oxford T-Shirt Co. The effort is also sponsored by Biloxi's Byrd & Wiser Law Firm, M&M Seafood and Wing Zone. Airway Labs in Dallas, Texas and Aunt Jenny's Restaurant in Ocean Springs, have also contributed, Edmonson said.

Anyone can participate in the race and the registration fee, which includes a T-shirt, is $15 before the race and $20 the day of the race.

Edmonson said students who don't actually want to participate in the race can get involved by volunteering to help with registration or help along the race route.

Groups can enter as teams, and there will be a prize for the team with the most participants, Edmonson said.

"So far, I am the only one from Oxford who is involved, but we would love for other people to jump on board," Edmonson said. "We need as much help as we can get."

The Mississippi Gulf Coast still has a long way to go to repair the damage from last year's hurricane season, and the Race to Rebuild is one way that students can get involved and contribute to this effort, Edmonson said.

For more information about getting involved in the race, contact Macey Edmonson at (662)801-5555 or race_to_rebuild@yahoo.com or visit http://www.racetorebuild.com.

[ Back to Student Voices ]