Steve Knox was a recreational runner and had taken part in the Run of the Mill 5K on a few occasions.

When Knox heard that South Snohomish County was about to drop its involvement in the event, he didn’t want to let that happen.

“There was no longer anyone to plan and execute it,” said Knox, who lives in Mill Creek.

Knox took the matter into his own hands and talked to staff at Mill Creek. He wondered if he and his wife, Linda, volunteered, if the city would help.

“It’s the longest standing event in Mill Creek,” Knox said. “The city didn’t want to lose it.”

Knox and his wife are now organizers and race sponsors of the Run of the Mill 5K run and walk, which celebrated its 24th year July 11 at Mill Creek Town Center.

The charity run drew about 1,925 people, Knox said July 14.

“Proceeds go for patient assistance fund,” said Dave Brooks, chief executive of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. Since 2006, almost $100,000 has been given to the Linda Baltzell Cancer Patient Assistance Fund.

The race donates 100 percent of entry fees to the fund and no financial support is provided by the city of Mill Creek.

The fund helps patients receiving cancer treatment with everyday expenses including paying for transportation to clinical care, prescriptions, utility costs and everyday bills.

Brooks is also a participant in the Run of the Mill event. Last year, he walked the course and took his two children, ages 8 and 11, with him.

“We made it all the way around,” Brooks said. “It’s a blast.”

More than 150 Providence employees will run in the race, all wearing lime green shirts.

“It’s the color of the cancer program,” Brooks said.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett is a sponsor of the event, as is Knox’s business, Columbia Funding Mortgage.

Although he works full time, Brooks devotes about 20 hours a week to volunteering for the annual event. Linda Knox is a full-time, 40-hour-a-week volunteer by the time January or February comes around.

“We do everything from coordinating permits, getting sponsors, marketing the race and getting certified with U.S. Track and Field,” Steve Knox said.

Runners, walkers, people with jogging strollers and even dogs are welcome to sign up for the race this weekend.

“Dogs this year will get a bandana,” Steve Knox said.

There are approximately 290 registrations still available with a maximum of 2,000 participants.

“At the end of the day, it’s supporting a great cause,” Steve Knox said.

Dogs can participate with (and under the control of) their owner for free. All dogs can check in at Paddywack before or after the race for a special bandana and treats. 1st three dogs to cross the finish line will get a special prize from Paddywack. All dogs must be leashed at all times, and owners must be prepared to clean up after them.

Thanks Paddywack!

Race Director, Steve Knox talks about his involvement with the Run of the Mill and why he continues to be the title sponsor every year for the last four years.

Please give us a few minutes to hear your feedback on the graphic design materials for this years ROTM http://www.sayenkodesign.com/feedback/

Steve Knox takes us through the NEW race course in 2009

In 2006, the Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce decided to stop organizing the Run of the Mill.  Steve Knox, not wanting to see the run go away, stepped up as the lead organizer of the event.  Steve heard from his son that I had planned a couple road races over in Tri-Cities, WA.  He asked me to help plan the event, and I happily accepted.

2006 was a whirlwind of an event.  With only a couple short months to plan the event, the new team managed to get 450 people to show up and raised about $8,500 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  From the beginning, we decided to change a lot of things from previous runs, including the location and distance (before 2006, the Run of the Mill was a 5.5k.  Now it is simply a 5k).  We also decided to change the event to a charity event – donating proceeds to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  Better yet, we restructured the budget to make it possible to donate 100% of race entry fees to charity.  Since 2006, we have donated 100% of our race entry fees to charity.

I recently found the montage I made after the 2006 event.  It still brings tears to my eyes knowing we were able to do so much in so little time while helping people and bringing together the community.

While the basic informational content remains the same, we now have a platform that allows us to produce and share content like never before.  In the past years, our website was primarily an informational website. This year, in addition to providing information about the race, we plan to use our website to tell the story behind the Run of the Mill.  All of the people involved in this event – whether they are organizers, cancer patients, volunteers, or participants, have amazing stories that I think are really important to share.

Next week I’ll be visiting Providence Regional Cancer Partnership to interview patients that have directly benefited from the money the Run of the Mill raised last year.  I am excited for the opportunity, but I’m sure I’ll get a little emotional.  The patients at Providence are struggling, but their bravery is inspiring.

Vanessa Hunter dominated the 2008 Run of the Mill 5k.