In this week's edition of "Get to Know Us" we asked the Bookin' for Lookin' 5K & 10K team to tell us a little bit about their race and share some behind the scenes info about the 2025 race. A big thank you to the Bookin' for Lookin' 5K & 10K crew for their time and for organizing this amazing event!
The Bookin' for Lookin' 5K & 10K run/walk
All proceeds benefit a local nonprofit, The Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This amazing organization provides essential services including specialized eye exams, rehabilitation skills, and individualized support. Learn more about them here https://www.bucksblind.org/.
This is our 13th year coordinating this race. We have made some changes over the years, but our mission has remained. Since it was founded in 2013, the Bookin’ for Lookin’ Foundation has raised over $105,000 in support of people with visual impairments.
That was our race director Mark’s creative idea. He thought of Bookin’ (running) and Lookin’ (focus on vision). Put them together and you have Bookin’ for Lookin’, which perfectly describes our race and what is supports. Mark is also featured in our race logo, bookin’ towards the finish line!
Mark used to walk up and down streets of Newtown and he would hear kids asking their parents why he had a white cane. Mark explained to them that he was visually impaired and his white cane helped him walk safely. From these interactions, Mark was inspired to educate others in his community and raise awareness about visual impairment. Mark is an avid runner of half marathons and was a teacher for 19 years before he retired due to his vision loss. He combined his love of running and teaching background to make a difference with the Bookin’ for Lookin’ race.
Mark McCowan is the Founder and Director of the Bookin’ for Lookin’ Foundation. His personal experience with vision loss makes him an inspiration to others as he continues to pursue his interests, including playing the piano, learning braille, and of course, running. According to Mark, his greatest accomplishment is being a dad to his young son, Bodi.
All the proceeds have gone to support organizations that conduct vision research, education or services for people who are blind and visually impaired. For the past few years, we have dedicated funds to local services provided by the Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
We are constantly looking to engage more people with our annual event. Each year we set the bar a little higher with the numbers of runners, walkers, volunteers and sponsors who help us raise awareness and funds for charity.
Over the years, we have had runners lose their shorts while crossing the finish line, heard “is that another “bleeping” hill?” as a favorite comment about the 10k route, and survived the occasional downpour on race day. The main thing that stands out every year is the sense of community and pride that all the participants feel from being a part of our annual event.
One of Mark’s favorite sayings is “Don’t think, just do.” It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned runner or casual walker, our goal is for everyone to do their best and have some fun! We hope to see everyone on April 27th.
© Bucks 5K Series / Crafted by Mind Your Design
