NSU’s Alumni Pavilion and Tailgate area was the place for a great breakfast and family fun Saturday, October 8 as the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club held its annual Pancake Festival, mile run and 5-K Race. Kiwanis has been a feature on the Natchitoches civic scene since 1946. The race is a relatively recent addition to the long-standing annual pancake breakfast. The Kiwanians served up several hundred pancake and sausage breakfasts to a hungry crowd of 165 runners, as well as family members and supporters.
Coach Carrie Bamburg of Bossier High School brought down her squad of 13 runners to enjoy Natchitoches’ hospitality and enjoy their first “Color Run”.
This year’s race continued a twist from last year that added to the fun. At several stations on the course, volunteers would throw up colorful clouds of powdered paint for the runners to pass through. NSU’s Cheerleaders were at the race’s finish to cheer on runners as they completed the course.
The event was a fun way to raise money for a serious cause. The 37 members of the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club are part of an international organization of civic-minded people in Clubs all over the world. The Natchitoches Kiwanis sponsors the well-known “Terrific Kids” program recognizing outstanding students in our schools. They also buy books for schools, just a few of the 10-15 service projects the club does each year. The club is also expanding into Coushatta and Leesville.
The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and 5k Run is the main fundraiser held each year to support these worthy efforts.
