Jamestown's 47th Runnin' O' the Green Draws About 700 Participants

About 700 adults laced up and set out through Jamestown on March 14 for the 47th annual Runnin' O' the Green, the St. Patrick's Day-themed pub-run that has quietly become one of the city's most durable fundraising traditions. Organizer Larry Knoblich, who turned 90 in October, put that figure at roughly 700 registered participants, down from the approximately 800 who signed up last year.

The route begins with a descent down the hill just north of Frontier Fort and 17th Street Southeast, carries participants through McElroy Park to Buff Bar & Lounge, and then winds down Main Street through Club 1883, Elks Lodge #995, Jonny B's Brickhouse, Corner Bar & Grill, Fred's Den, The Wooly, All Vets Club, and Shady's Bar and Lounge. Knoblich encouraged participants to come prepared: "It's a fun day. Carry a little extra cash in your pocket to enjoy a beverage at one of the pubs. They appreciate you stopping in."

Each registrant pays a $10 entry fee, but the bars along the route supply the bulk of the donations. Knoblich's goals for this year's event are $30,000 for Elks Camp Grassick and $10,000 for local cancer patients, with each individual cancer patient receiving $500. Since 2008, the event has directed nearly $360,000 to Elks Camp Grassick, a summer camp for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities located near Dawson, North Dakota, and $116,800 to cancer patients.

Knoblich is emphatic about where every dollar goes. "Not one single cent of it goes to administrative fees. None of it goes into my pocket or anyone else's," he said. "All of the money goes to … Elks Camp Grassick and (people with cancer)."

Beyond the charitable mission, Knoblich said the Run delivers a measurable jolt to Jamestown's local economy, filling hotel rooms and keeping restaurants busy across the city. He also noted that the Jamestown Elkettes will take on volunteer roles for the event going forward.

Now in its fifth decade, the Run has become as much a civic institution as a fundraiser. "Please find it in your heart to come and support a good thing," Knoblich said.