Friends of Boys State 5K

Join us for an evening of family fun, fellowship, and fitness in Anderson, SC as we honor special members of the Palmetto Boys State Family: David Hortman, Betty Lewis, and Tucker Hipps! NEW FOR 2022 - Dinner, Entertainment, Family Activities, Silent Auction, and MORE! Our 5K race route continues through the historic Boulevard Community in and around beautiful Anderson University.

UPDATE - Dinner Tickets (other than race participants) will close on Sun night, June 5th (See "STORE" tab for dinner tickets). 5K registration will continue until June 9th. Walk-up race and dinner tickets will be first come / first served as supplies last.

MORE DETAILS for FRIENDS OF BOYS STATE 5K:

Our event was founded in 2012 in honor of CPT David Hortman, a Byrnes High School graduate, PBS staff member, and highly decorated and respected Army officer and pilot. Dave was also a fitness fanatic with a contagious smile and a fun-filled heart. Dave's commitment to Boys State and love for physical training led to the creation of our 5K event in hopes of providing funding for more young men to attend Palmetto Boys State. We remember Dave's humility, sense of humor, and his brave service and sacrifice for our nation's freedom. We are thankful to have the support of Dave's mom Brenda, his sister Jill, and their family as we continue to celebrate the life of our friend and American Hero, CPT David Hortman. (Learn more at davesrun.com)

In early 2022, Friends of Boys State in partnership with the Palmetto Boys State planning conference agreed to add additional honorees to our event. This year, we are pleased to announce that as we continue to remember CPT David Hortman through the Friends of Boys State 5K, we will also honor Betty Lewis and Tucker Hipps.

Betty Lewis may be best known among the Boys State family as our matriarch, wife of PBS Secretary/Treasurer Rev. Dr. Sinclair Lewis, and mother of PBS staff members Tim and Stephen Lewis, but she was also known among countless communities throughout South Carolina as a tireless servant, compassionate advocate, and a faithful friend. Betty worked hard to provide care for the needy, to promote social justice for all, and to help establish homes for abused peoples in many communities in our state. She supported and participated in our 5K event for many years alongside her children and grandchildren. Her great examples of faith, family, servanthood, and love for others lives on through the Boys State family and we are excited to add Betty Lewis as an honoree this year. (Learn more about one of the organizations Betty impacted most at safeharborsc.org)

Tucker Hipps, the son of Gary and Cindy Hipps, attended Boys State as a Citizen in 2012, representing Wren High School, and earned the opportunity to serve as a WPBS Sports Reporter. Because of his leadership qualities and example, Tucker was chosen from almost 1,000 PBS Citizens to return in 2013 as a Junior Counselor and helped his city Chattooga win the coveted All PBS City Award. Tucker was invited back again in 2014 as a Senior Counselor, leading the Brothers of Santee City. That summer, a few days after serving as a volunteer for our 5K event, he posted these words on social media, "Boys State can't be explained, it has to be experienced #Brotherhood." Tucker Hipps embodied the values of Palmetto Boys State and we are pleased to honor his legacy that lives on through the Counselors and Citizens attending Palmetto Boys State each summer. (Learn more at tuckergives.org)

Our event will be moving to an evening format and adding family activities, dinner, a silent auction, and more, all in hopes of increasing participation and local support, providing more scholarships for rising high school seniors to attend Palmetto Boys State - an effort that all three of our honorees strongly supported. 

Our 11th annual 5K Run / Walk, now known as the "Friends of Boys State 5K" is sponsored by Friends of Boys State (FOBS), a non-profit organization supporting the American Legion Palmetto Boys State program.  All proceeds will go directly to Friends of Boys State and provide scholarships for deserving individuals who may need financial assistance to help make their experience at Palmetto Boys State a reality. 

Race Course: Our course features the historic neighborhood in and around Anderson's Boulevard community including a showcase of the beautiful Anderson University and the newly expanded AU Athletic Campus.  The canopy-covered 5k run / walk will be chip timed with official race results posted online.  The race will start and conclude at the Anderson University Athletic Campus area and will feature an awards presentation, music, refreshments, and family activities.

Race Format: Individual awards will be presented for Overall Men and Women finishers as well as Overall Master's Men and Women finishers: 1st ($75), 2nd ($50), and 3rd ($25).  Gifts/prizes will also be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each age division by gender.  A group/business participation award and gifts will be presented to the organization with the most registered participants.

Race registration includes one race fee, one race shirt, one race day meal, race refreshments, and any applicable prizes/awards at the end of the event.

Race participants are encouraged to invite and bring along their entire family for dinner, entertainment, and fun. Click on "STORE" on the registration page to see additional options for meals and purchase of race merchandise: Family Meal Discount $60.00, Meal Only (for non-participants) $15.00, Performance Race Shirts $20.00. Walk up meals will be available race day while supplies last for $20.00. While the runner in your family is on the race course, enjoy the festive family atmosphere at the AU Pavilion and Athletic Campus. This year, we will continue our tradition of providing a performance race shirt for all 5K registered participants. The shirt design and color will be announced in the days to come.

NEW UPDATE - Hotel Discount provided by the New Home2Suites in Downtown Anderson. Use this link for a special rate for 1 or 2 nights during the weekend of the Friends of Boys State 5K: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=ANDRNHT&groupCode=CHTBYS&arrivaldate=2022-06-10&departuredate=2022-06-12&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT (Be sure to edit the number of nights for your stay).

Please follow updates on social media: Twitter & Instagram @DavesRunSC and Facebook @DavesRun. Also, please contact us if you are interested in volunteering for the event, providing silent auction item(s), and/or supporting this event through corporate sponsorship.