AR-03 Dem Candidate Ken Aden Launches Run 2 End Hunger II

[Horseman]

Democratic Congressional Candidate Will Undertake Seven-Day Race Across District To Increase Awareness Of Hunger, Poverty

RUSSELLVILLE—Democratic Congressional candidate Ken Aden of Russellville on Thursday announced that his campaign will launch Run 2 End Hunger II, a 253-mile run which will be completed by the candidate in seven days between April 28 and May 5 to raise awareness of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty in Arkansas’ Third Congressional District.
While serving as the director of an Arkansas non-profit, Aden completed a similar race in 2010, raising more than 7,500 cans of food for residents in the Arkansas Delta.

According to the hunger relief charity Feeding America, food insecurity and hunger is a significant problem in many of the counties contained in Arkansas’s Third Congressional District. In Benton County alone, Feeding America estimates that 28,470 individuals suffer from food insecurity. In Pope County, the number is as high as 39,960.

“Hunger, food insecurity, and poverty are widespread in our district. In spite of the fact that our district has at least three billionaires from the Forbes 400 list living within its boundaries–possibly one of the more significant concentrations of wealth in a Congressional District outside of a places like Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, or Chicago–people here still go to bed hungry every night,” Aden said.

“Yet, while families in this district go to bed hungry, our member of Congress continues to do the bidding of the wealthy corporations and their political action committees that helped put him in office while turning a blind eye to the suffering right here at home,” Aden continued.

Through the campaign’s Run 2 End Hunger II, the campaign will be collecting pledges of canned food being taken to made good upon Aden’s successful completion of the race. Pledged food will be going to food banks and food pantries within the district. Pledge sheets will be available online at Aden4Arkansas.com starting March 5, and individuals may contact [e-mail] to receive a pledge form. Area businesses who wish to distribute pledge sheets may contact the campaign. Ken’s campaign website will feature up-to-the-minute tracking when the race kicks off. The campaign has set a goal of 15,000 cans of food for the race. Aden will be talking with area voters along the way about hunger and poverty issues, and followed by a pace vehicle from the campaign in case of a medical emergency.


DAY ONE

Begins at 1609 East Main Street with kick-off at 9:30 a.m. Participant will head north up Highway 7, taking him through Dover and ending at Pelsor for the night. Expected time of arrival in Pelsor at 9PM. Total distance traveled for day one: 37.9 miles

DAY TWO

Depart Pelsor, 9 a.m. Participant will travel north out of Pelsor, Arkansas along HWY 7, coming to rest in the city of Marble Falls. Expected time of arrival in Marble Falls at 9PM. Total distance traveled for day two: 37.0 miles.

DAY THREE

Depart Marble Falls at 9 a.m., arriving Alpena, Arkansas at 4:30 PM. Traveling north up Hwy 7, through the city of Harrison at 3PM and then heading west towards Alpena along Hwy 62
Distance traveled during day three: 23.6 Miles

DAY FOUR

Alpena, Arkansas to Busch, Arkansas along Hwy 62 west. Distance traveled for day four is 38.5 miles. Expected arrival in Busch, Arkansas is 8pm

Day FIVE

Busch, Arkansas to Springdale, Arkansas traveling along Hwy 62 and south down 71B. Total distance traveled, 36.2 miles

Day SIX

Springdale Arkansas to Winslow, along Arkansas HWY 71B South. Expected arrival time in Winslow, 9PM

Day SEVEN

Winslow, Arkansas to Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 44.2 Miles. Ken Aden will arrive at Varsity Sports Bar and Grill in Downtown Ft. Smith no later than 7pm on day 7.

Total distance traveled: 253 Miles

Arkansas Times Blog article: http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/03/01/thursday-night-line

[Art_from_Ark]

1. He'll be running through my hometown

I wish I could be there to see him.

Here's hoping that the Arkansas 3rd gets its first Democratic Congressman in 46 years!

[Horseman]

2. This guy is a genuine 'do-gooder.'

He really means this... wish you could be there, too...

[Art_from_Ark]

3. That's a pretty challenging route he's chosen

Lots and lots of hills-- I've traveled every inch of his route, at one time or another. The "easiest" section (if you could call it that) is probably between Busch (near Beaver Dam) and Springdale-- and even then, there are lots of up-and-down stretches which climax at Brightwater Hill, between Avoca and Garfield on US 62. Fairlyy flat from Avoca to Springdale. At any rate, he must be in really great shape.