DAHLONEGA – The Fifth Annual Nigel's Run with Superheroes: Make-A-Wish Fun Walk/Run is in the books as the Nighthawk Nation participated virtually across much of the country this year while practicing social distancing. Participants shared their pictures of them walking on social media using the hashtag #NigelsVirtualWalk, garnering participation from places such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Mexico, as well as more locally in multiple locations throughout the Peach State.

Photos and videos from the event can be found on Nigel the Nighthawk's Twitter account (@UNGNighthawk) and by using the hashtag #NigelsVirtualWalk.
 
In total, the campaign raised $5,190 for the department's Make-A-Wish initiative, passing the $10,000 total donation mark and earning another on-campus wish reveal.
 
The event featured 276 virtual participants including four large teams with themed names: The Arnold Five, Macey's Superheroes, Team Jones, Team Marling/Holman.

Winners of the annual costume contest will be notified via social media and will be awarded a free meal gift card from Chick-fil-a of Dahlonega. Additionally, all participants that confirmed their participation will receive t-shirts in the near future. T-shirts will be available for pick-up from the athletics department once normal operations resume.
 
"The execution of this event is a bright spot for us not only because it allowed us to pass the donation threshold to host another on-campus wish, but it also showed the true resolve of the Nighthawk Nation," stated athletic director Lindsay Reeves. "The current unique landscape that we are all facing was not going to stop our student-athletes from taking the Make-A-Wish initiative to the finish line."

UNG would also like to thank the title sponsors of the 5th Annual Nigel's Walk/Run with Superheroes: BSN Sporting Goods, Bellamy of Dahlonega, Georgia Mountains Health, McDonalds of Dahlonega and the Studio at 120.
 
Since 2010, the UNG Athletic Department has raised over $195,000 for Make-A-Wish, including having raised more than $10,000 each year since 2010-11. More than 19 wishes have been granted from the efforts of the Nighthawk Nation.