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’s end, the real beneficiary is a local organization who depends on community support.
“We put on the race to help people,” said Mark Ezell, President and GM of Purity Dairies. “Purity has been so blessed with loyal support—this is our natural response to give back, to make a difference in the community.”
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’s Hospital at Vanderbilt: both the race and the hospital are experiencing growth.
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. 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’s Growing to New Heights Campaign. This campaign is helping fund a four-floor expansion that will enable Children’s Hospital to provide care to more children.
“Children’s Hospital is so worthy of our support,” said Ezell. “No other place in the state has the expertise and level of specialty care that Children’s Hospital does. It is a wonderful asset to our community to have doctors, nurses and staff that are so devoted to children.”
For Mark Ezell and his wife, Martha—who serves on the Children’s Hospital Board—the relationship with Children’s Hospital runs deep. In addition to the corporate relationship with Purity Dairies, the Ezell’s 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.
“Monroe Carell Jr. was a dear friend and mentor. We felt his passion for Children’s Hospital and know how blessed Nashville is to have this hospital,” said Ezell.