About Us
Where it all began...
In 2011, two local runners, Ben Putman and Max Mahler, revived the Cow Paddy Run, a popular race that raised money for Fayetteville’s Gulley Park in the 1990s, which was instrumental in their early adoption of running.
With clear support from the community, the Cow Paddy Foundation became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to continue that legacy of giving back. Through its disbursement of race proceeds to schools and strong community partnerships, the nonprofit established itself as a dependable financial supporter of innovative public education projects around health and fitness through its partnership with the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation and its support of Fayetteville Public Schools.
Over the years, programming expanded to include more races, the Hero Half Marathon in 2014 and the Nutty Runner 5K in 2018, the Turkey Trot-n-Trek in 2021, and new partner races in 2022.
In 2016, the board adopted the name “The Spark Foundation” to better encompass these new offerings and connect to their vision of a world in which kids and families have opportunities to create healthy habits at an early age and a community that supports them in doing so.
It all started with a run...
We all know that any type of aerobic exercise has physical health benefits like reducing risk of heart and lung disease, diabetes, dementia and cancer, as well as lowering blood pressure and helping to lose weight. But did you know that aerobic exercise like running can also be beneficial to your mental health and well-being?
Running can increase serotonin levels in the brain which is responsible for regulating mood. It also increases natural endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve your mood. Running can help improve sleep which is necessary for mood regulation.
Physical exercise is also proven to increase connections between nerve cells in the brain, pump more blood to the brain and increase the size of the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory. All these things combined are helpful in being able to think more clearly, improve memory, and protect your brain against injury and disease.
Additionally, the barriers to entry are relatively low, particularly when compared to many other sports. All you need is a decent pair of running shoes. There aren’t any gym fees, expensive equipment, or field reservations required. Unlike many other sports available to youth, you don’t need to coordinate with other students or coaches to get a full team roster in order to get your run in for the day.
Of course, it’s certainly helpful to run with a buddy! In fact, running can be a great social activity, an opportunity to develop social awareness, and a chance to create goals and boost confidence. The personal possibilities and rewards are endless.
