The Rainsville Freedom Run has come a long way since its humble beginnings behind a local church. This June, more than 1,300 participants are expected to flood the streets of this northeast Alabama town, representing states across the U.S. and even a handful of foreign countries. They’ll walk, jog, and run their way through 5K and 10K courses that are as challenging as they are meaningful. And when it’s all over, their efforts will have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local and global charities.

At the heart of it all is race coordinator Jerry Clifton, a man whose running journey began as a chance encounter at a local gym.

“I was actually at Body Vision one day taking a Pilates class,” he remembers. “There were some girls standing there talking about going running on Saturday morning. And as I walked by, I said, you know, running is something I’ve never done.”

They invited him to join. He did. Barely.

“I probably ran about a mile. And then I had to stop and see if I was going to die or not,” he laughs.

But something clicked. Jerry ran the next week, and the week after that. In time, short runs became long ones. He ran his first half-marathon in Nashville. Then he decided to attempt a full marathon, something less than 1% of runners ever do.

“I literally thought I was going to die when that thing was over,” he says. He didn’t, of course — and he hasn’t stopped running since.

This year’s Freedom Run, scheduled for June 7, marks the event’s 17th year. What began as a fundraiser for mission work at Rainsville First Baptist Church has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected small-town races. From 175 participants in its first year to more than 1,200 in 2023, the race has grown in size, reputation, and impact.

“We gave $50,000 to charity last year,” Jerry says. “We’ve now given over a half-million dollars since we’ve been doing it.”

The race has supported everything from local food banks to animal shelters, addiction recovery centers to Christmas charities, and even international clean water efforts. One of Jerry’s favorite milestones was when the Freedom Run funded a freshwater well in Uganda.

“I told them I wanted us someday to be able to dig a well over there that we can say this was the Rainsville Freedom Run well,” he says. “And so we did that.”

The event draws a wide range of participants, including elite runners, hobbyists, parents pushing strollers, and friends walking dogs. “You don’t have to be a runner to participate,” Jerry says. “It’s just a great family community event.”

Jerry is quick to point out that a race of this size would be impossible without the support of folks throughout the area, including the countless volunteers on race day. He is particularly thankful for the help of the organizers who serve on the board with him: Pam Willingham, HTPG; Amy Simmons, The Carpet Center; Laura Lewis, First State Bank; and Emily Carter, Carter Family Dentistry.

The course itself has changed over time. When the race outgrew its original gathering point at Broadway Baptist Church, Jerry moved it to the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum. The current 10K route is tougher than ever, something competitive runners appreciate. And thanks to strong community support—from local businesses to city services—it runs like clockwork.

“It costs more every year to put it on,” Jerry says. “A lot of people think, well, the more people you get, the more money you can give away. And that’s true to some degree. But it also costs more to do it.”

Still, the Freedom Run continues to grow. With $14,000 in door prizes—most of them $100 bills donated by local businesses and individuals—community spirit is high, even among non-runners. And for those who can’t participate in the race itself, Jerry has another suggestion.

“If you can’t do anything else, just come out and cheer on the runners,” he says. “It means so much just to have people out there on the course cheering for you.”

He would know. At his first marathon in Birmingham, he nearly gave up with less than a mile to go. Then a stranger ran alongside him and asked for his name.

“She literally screamed my name out across the finish line,” Jerry recalls. “I ran it in like four hours and 57 minutes. And after I finished, I looked for her to tell her thank you. Could not find her anywhere. She did her job. She got me across, and then she went on.”

Jerry’s own running streak recently hit five years without missing a single day, even while battling injuries. What began as a 30-day challenge with friend and neighbor Pam Willingham has turned into a crazy record. “We’re now at 1,838 days that we’ve run straight without missing,” he said the day of our interview. “And I just don’t want to give up on the streak.”

Maybe that’s the secret to the Freedom Run’s success, too. There’s a streak in Rainsville and the entire county. It’s a streak of generosity, community, grit, and good hearts. And that’s a streak that refuses to be broken.

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To register for the race, click here. To donate to the Rainsville Freedom Run and its charities, reach out to Jerry Clifton on Facebook.