Up & Coming Weekly

Run For the Red: The Hottest Race In Town by KAREN POPPELE It’s August, and while it may feel more like Hades outside than the Middle South, that little detail won’t deter dedicated runners and walkers from participating in the largest road race in Fayetteville, the American Red Cross “Run for the Red” 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run on Saturday, August 14. Billed as “The Hottest Race in the South” –– literally and fi guratively this year–– the annual event kicks off at 7 a.m. at 101 Robeson Street, giving runners a head start on the heat. “This is the fourth year of the race,” said Tracey Kohut, Program Assistant for the Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC), which serves Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke and Sampson Counties. “The 5K is the North Carolina State Championship race for the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). It is something that is done across the United States with the ARC. It is a major fundraiser for the ARC, and the neatest thing is that not only does it include a state championship race, but there’s also a cash purse for the top three males and females in the 5K and 10K races.” And those who wish to participate in the event, but don’t want to run in the 5K and 10K races, won’t feel left out in the…heat. “A lot of people don’t necessarily do the running thing,” Kohut said, “so we incorporated it so that it can be a family-fun event, and we’ve got that one-mile walk. That’s pretty awesome.” Strollers, kids’ wagons and dogs on leashes are also welcome. Money raised from the race will help ensure the ARC is able to support members of the community served by the Highlands Chapter in times of need. And the community is an important contributing factor to the success of the race. “The community has jumped in. Our sponsors are making this possible,” said Kohut. “They’re supplying water for the runners. They’re supplying snacks for the runners. It’s a community-wide event where everybody gets involved. “I have to tell you what a lot of people don’t know. Everybody thinks that the ARC is a government agency, so therefore everybody thinks that the ARC has a lot of money. What folks don’t realize is that we are able to do what we do only because of donations from individuals, corporations and businesses. And all of the money that we raise from this race is going to stay in our local community to fund our disaster services, to fund our health and safety services –– we taught over 10,000 people CPR last year –– and our Services to Armed Forces (SAF). Here in Fayetteville, this chapter actually initiates emergency messaging to give to service members when there is something going on in the family. We actually start that messaging so that families and service members can be reunited in a time of need. That’s what our donations actually pay for.” Participation in the race has steadily climbed each year, and Kohut hopes to see it reach a new benchmark. “The fi rst year it started out, it was just several hundred people, and of course, last year was year number three, and it was at 1200, and I’m thinking well, come on, we can get 1500!” Participants may register online, by mail or by dropping off a completed form at the Highlands ARC offi ce. Online registration ends on Wednesday, August 11. On-site registration may be available if the event is not full, but runners and walkers are encouraged to register online. Registration fees for individuals for the 10K, 5K and 1-Mile fun run are $35, $30 and $5, respectively. “The runners for the 5K and 10K will receive a tee shirt with the sponsors listed on the back,” Kohut said. “If they are going to walk, they have the opportunity to purchase a T-shirt.” The races also feature staggered start times. The 10K begins at 7 a.m., the 5K at 8:30 a.m. and the 1-Mile at 9 a.m. For those who come out, yes, it will probably be hot, and yes, you will sweat, but you will also be making a difference for our community. “It’s a morning run,” said Kohut. “Awards will be scheduled at 10 a.m., so hopefully by the heat of the day, everybody’s going to be basking in their glory of what a great job they did. Everybody come on out. Please come out and make a difference.” For more information or to volunteer, visit www.highlandsarc.org/ or call 910-867-8151. KAREN POPPELE, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com. Keeping Your Identity Your Own by STEPHANIE CRIDER According to the Federal Trade Commission identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. As many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. It is a serious crime and one that destroys lives every day. Living in an age where personal information is easily obtainable, it is more important than ever to be mindful of who has access to personal information. “There is a great commercial on TV where someone opens a store front bank and all these people come in because they are lured by a free item,” said Crime Prevention Specialist Kathleen Ruppert. “And they are giving these people their social security numbers, their mother’s maiden name, bank account numbers — everything. We are just so gullible sometimes and so looking for that great deal that we often throw caution to the wind.” There are countless tricks and ploys that crooks use to get information about people but the bottom line is that if something sounds too good to be true, then it really is too good to be true, cautions Crime Prevention Specialist Connie King. There are plenty of things that people do, even when they know better, to put their identity at risk. Women are some of the greatest offenders. “When we have community watch meetings and you ask who actually leaves their purse on the seat of the car there are people who raise their hands,” said King. And they will say ‘Oh, I am just lazy’ or ‘I am just going to run into the mall for a few seconds’ and when they come back their purse is gone. But they have no one to blame but themselves — and that is a way for your identity to get stolen just that fast. That happens all the time.” How do thieves steal an identity? Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers or other fi nancial account information. For identity thieves, this information is as good as gold. Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get your information, including: 1. Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it. 2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card. 3. Phishing. They pretend to be fi nancial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form. 5. Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access. 6. Pretense. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from fi nancial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources. If you suspect your identity has been stolen, or to fi nd out more about how to protect your personal information visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ What do thieves do with a stolen identity? Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways. Credit card fraud: * They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the cards and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent accounts appear on your credit report. * They may change the billing address on your credit card so that you no longer receive bills, and then run up charges on your account. Because your bills are now sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there’s a problem. Phone or utilities fraud: • They may open a new phone or wireless account in your name, or run up charges on your existing account. • They may use your name to get utility services like electricity, heating or cable TV. Bank/fi nance fraud: • They may create counterfeit checks using your name or account number. • They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks. * They may clone your ATM or debit card and make electronic withdrawals in your name, draining your accounts. • They may take out a loan in your name. Government documents fraud: • They may get a driver’s license or offi cial ID card issued in your name but with their picture. • They may use your name and Social Security number to get government benefi ts. • They may fi le a STEPHANIE CRIDER, Staff Writer. fraudulent tax return using your information. COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com. AUGUST 4-10, 2010 UCW 7

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