The Mount Vernon School will host the third annual Cocoa Classic 5K on its Sandy Springs campus on Saturday, Feb. 22, open to all ages and abilities. Even people with strollers and dogs can take part in the race.
The event supports Shoes That Fit, a nonprofit dedicated to providing news shoes for children in need.
Mount Vernon School senior Collin Maher created the race three years ago, envisioning it as a way to help children feel confident and valued. In the first two years, students at Ison Springs and Lake Forest Elementary schools in Sandy Springs received pairs of shoes. More than 1,200 pairs of shoes have been donated.
“Every year, we’ve been able to provide more kids with new shoes, and knowing that this effort will continue—even as I transition to college—makes it even more meaningful,” Maher told Rough Draft Atlanta.
The fundraiser and shoe donations will stay in the family when Maher leaves Georgia in the fall to attend Washington University in St. Louis after signing a commitment to run track there. Maher will pass the leadership and planning responsibilities to his brother, Brennan.
A mix of sponsors, volunteers, and the Mount Vernon School community help Maher organize and promote the race. Local businesses support it financially, with family and friends helping with logistics. Volunteers, including many from the school help out on race day.
Maher said people jump on board to help when they see the impact the donations make.
“I just explain what we’re doing and show them how something as simple as a pair of shoes can make a real difference for a kid. Once they understand that, they’re usually eager to help,” Maher said.
Selection of the school to benefit from this year’s race proceeds is in process. The goal is to find an elementary school where the need is greatest. Maher said that the more money they raise, the bigger the school they can serve.
Maher picked shoes for the donation because he said they are an overlooked barrier for kids to stay active.
“A good pair of shoes isn’t just about comfort — it affects confidence, participation in sports, and even how kids feel about themselves at school. I see these kids walking to and from school every day, and I wanted to make a direct impact, and shoes felt like the best way to do that,” Maher said.
He found the national organization Shoes That Fit as he researched nonprofits focusing on providing shoes. The organization includes a system to distribute donations effectively, so Maher said partnering with Shoes That Fit made sense.
Shoes That Fit is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Claremont, California. It helps children in need by providing new athletic shoes.
Registration is open through the race website, runcocoaclassic.com. Onsite registration will begin at the school at 510 Mount Vernon Hwy NE, Sandy Springs, beginning at 8 a.m. The race starts at 9 a.m.
The course is a USATF-certified loop course and AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifier.
Each participant will receive a Cocoa Classic Yeti mug filled with hot cocoa and other giveaways. Top finishers will be awarded prizes courtesy of Yeti, Poppie soda, Road Runner, and LMNT.
