Kelvin Kuria and David Craft stayed within a few paces of each other for much Saturday morning’s Secret Meals 5K on the University of Alabama Huntsville campus.
Kuria, 25, of Huntsville, pulled away in the final stretch to take the win in a time of 24:13. A field of 46 finishers enjoyed a swift course with warmish temps and a bit of humidity. Hearty on-course encouragement at the aid stations was provided by the UAH lacrosse team and friends.
Better yet, more than $29,000 was raised to benefit the Secret Meals for Hungry Children program. It provides weekend food packs for students in need.
Craft, 24, of Sheffield, was second in 24:54. Dale Downhour, 62, of Madison, was third in 25:46.
Amanda Parker, 41, of Decatur, was the female group winner in 27:41. She was fifth overall. Anh Downhour, 55, of Huntsville, was second (6th) in 28:05, and Summer Babis, 44, of Owens Cross Roads, was third (8th) in 28:45.
See all the results of the Secret Meals 5K here.
Secret Meals for Hungry Children
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Secret Meals 5K will be used to help provide weekend food packs for children in North Alabama through the Secret Meals For Hungry Children program.
More than $29,000 was raised through Saturday’s event thanks to donors, sponsors and race entries. The program was founded in 2008 by the Alabama Credit Union. It cost approximately $140 to feed one child for an entire school year. To allow as many children to receive food packs as possible, Alabama Credit Union provides all promotional and operational funding. That means 100 percent of all donations goes towards the purchase of food packs. Secret Meals for Hungry Children is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making any contribution tax deductible.
School officials identify the number of children in need each week and report those numbers to Secret Meals. Counselors, teachers and cafeteria staff look for signs of children eating everything available early in the week, hoarding food as the weekend approaches, and asking for additional food during the day. Students receiving food packs are kept anonymous from the organization. Meals are secretly put into their backpacks on Friday afternoons.
In the Meals
Approximately 2,500 students living in Alabama and Northwest Florida receive Secret Meals weekend food packs. Each food pack contains two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks. All items include pull-tab containers, straw-penetrating juice boxes and bite-sized crackers. The items are child-friendly and vitamin-fortified. Best of all, the food packs are 3.5 pounds and can be easily carried in their backpacks.
To volunteer or raise money for the program, email Nicole Fulgham at secretmeals@alabamacu.com
(Information about the Secret Meals program was used from its website. Visit for more information and how to donate directly).
