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From the Kidd to the Dome

Louis Mykoff fully supports the ALS ice bucket challenges, but a year ago his ice buckets were used for two swollen knees, not a viral video. There were shin splints and toenails falling off, too, and he lost 12 pounds from his already thin frame running 125 miles from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.

225 has partnered with the popular downtown 5K group Happy’s Running Club. To encourage health and exercise in the community, we are offering participants in the weekly runs a chance to win prizes. To celebrate our partnership we have rolled out these soft, breathable New Balance running shirts in men’s and women’s cuts, and all emblazoned with #gethappy225.

Calling it the Red Crescent Run, the former McKinley track runner bolted along the top of the levee, across rocks and all, in five days, sleeping in a camper each night.
Use this hashtag when you run with Happy’s. The group takes off from Third Street at 6 p.m. every Tuesday, rain or shine. The shirts are available for purchase through the club. happysrunningclub.com

“I was running a lot after a breakup just to get some think time, and a friend suggested I do a charity run,” Mykoff recalls. “When I looked at what the Team Gleason Initiative Foundation was doing to fight ALS I thought, I’m a terrible human being; not helping anyone,’ and I just felt compelled to do something.”

In 2013, Mykoff raised more than $11,000 for the non-profit affiliated with former Saints star and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient Steve Gleason.

A statue of Gleason stands in Champions Square outside of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome where Mykoff will end his run this year on Oct. 26 before the kickoff of the Saints’ Sunday night game versus the Packers. He hopes he won’t be alone. Mykoff is using the hashtag #runwithlouis to help recruit others to join him for the final stretch from St. Charles Avenue to the Dome. He’ll begin his run at the U.S.S. Kidd early on the morning of Oct. 21.

This year, Mykoff has secured his first corporate sponsor in Mockler Beverage, and his goal is to raise $20,000. He will be running with a GoPro camera while friend Blake Hernandez shoots video for a future documentary.

“It’s amazing to see how it has grown to hundreds of supporters, sometimes 20 new donors every day,” Hernandez says. “And yet, it’s very much a one-man gig. It’s all Louis’ vision.”

Visit gofundme.com/redcrescentrun for more information.