Mayor Dickens Hosts 5K on the 5th Runway

More than 2,100 runners and walkers returned to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Runway 10-28 early Oct. 14 to join Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Airport General Manager Balram “B” Bheodari for the 2023 Mayor’s 5K on the 5th runway.

Mayor Dickens and the General Manager welcomed the crowd to this unique event that offers the rare opportunity to run on an airport runway. Registered participants spanning 25 states and ages ranging from 12 to 80 help raise funds for the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program and the United Way of Greater Atlanta College Bound Program. Final figures are still being calculated, but preliminary figures show the event garnered more than $350,000 in monetary and in-kind donations.

“I am incredibly proud to see our city come together at the world’s busiest airport to support our youth,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “The Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program is our way of standing in the gap for our bright young Atlanta students who need additional financial support continuing their education and equip them for success.”

“It takes many people, from many places to work together to make an event like this work seamlessly,” said Airport General Manager Balram “B” Bheodari. “We maxed out our 2,000-participant goal and helped raise a significant amount of money to provide funds for the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program and United Way of Greater Atlanta. Thank you to everyone responsible for making the ninth Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway a huge success.”

Media sponsor Atlanta News First meteorologist Fred Campagna and radio personality Ryan Cameron served as MCs for the annual event. Pre-and post-race activities included music, participation from the Atlanta Hawks Dancers, Atlanta Falcons Mascot Freddie the Falcon, smoothie samples from Smoothie King – Camp Creek, and line dancing among the attendees.

This generosity of 27 sponsors, including Delta Air Lines, Paradies Lagardère, and Hudson Group helped make this event possible.