Pilot Club looks to kick off weekend Wright with 5K, Deadlift competition

The Pilot Club of Gonzales will honor a longtime resident by hosting the Melanie Wright 5K Run/Walk & Deadlift Party at Independence Park this Saturday, Sept. 16, beginning at 7 a.m.

This inaugural event is being held to raise money for scholarships for nursing students in the Gonzales County community. A portion of the funds will also go towards the adaptive playground being built in Gonzales and other club projects. The event will also help the club in raising awareness to kids and adults alike about brain--related matters through the Pilot Club’s Brainminders Program. 

Melanie Wright was a proud resident of Gonzales her entire life. She loved supporting local causes including Alzheimer's Walk, Relay for Life, various church events, Chamber board, Pilot Club, Lions Club and high school events. As a nurse for more than 30 years, she donated her time to nursing students who needed tutors and she served on the Board of Nurses for Victoria College, where she also taught classes. She also led clinicals during her time as the director of nursing at Texan Nursing & Rehab.

Melanie loved to go to the gym and the Pilot Club, a 501(c)(3), is excited to host an event in her honor to raise money for a great cause. All sponsorships and donations are tax deductible as allowed under the law.

If you are interested in sponsoring or making a donation, please contact event director Lorrell Wright, Melanie’s daughter, at lorrell78629@gmail.com or 830-203-0109.

Participants can sign up for the deadlift competition or the 5K or both. Registration for the 5K Run/Walk is $50 per person, while the Kids Run is $15 per person. A Virtual 5K is being held as well with $60 entry fee. Registration includes a medal and a shirt.

Late registration and packet pickup is at 7 a.m. Saturday with the 5K Run/Walk and Kids Run both beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Awards categories for the 5K Run/Walk will include Overall Male/Female as well as Top 3 Male/Female in age groups: 1-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-99.

Virtual 5K will be for the Top 3 Male/Female in those same age groups. There will be no age group awards for the Kids Run.

Registration for the deadline competition is $40 per person and the competition begins at 8 a.m. at Independence Park.

On Friday, Sept. 15, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., there will be a fundraiser kickoff party at Fire City Grill, with a portion of the proceeds from the evening being donated to the Melanie Wright Nursing Scholarship Fund. There will be live music from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. by the John Brewer Band with Jack Honey.