The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom has once again partnered with icare, in a revised pandemic-approved "eat-at-home" format, to host the 15th annual EAT-A-THON during Relays Week, April 18-24, 2021.

The EAT-A-THON is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit community fundraiser for central Iowa nonprofits. In the event, four-person teams representing fifteen central Iowa nonprofits will secure monetary pledges from March 22 through April 24 for each ounce of food they eat as a 4x4 relay team during the week of the Relays.  The money they raise will go towards the charitable causes of the competing organizations. 
 
In 2019, the teams met on the Relays stage in the shadow of Drake stadium on Forest Avenue to chow down on the Emmenecker sandwich from Jethro's BBQ in front of nearly one thousand Relays' fans.  Due to the pandemic, this year's event is the "eat-at-home eat-a-thon," whereby the teams will pick up their mini Emmenecker sandwich from Jethro's "to-go" during the week of the Relays so they can eat their sandwiches from the sanctity of their homes.

"The EAT-A-THON has been a great event to celebrate and support our community during the Drake Relays," said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays.  "While we will miss hosting the 15 nonprofits and their teams and supporters in person, we are very happy to virtually host this event, and share the final results and announce the winning nonprofits."

The 15 participating nonprofits all hail from central Iowa and include Average Everyday Miracles, the Spina Bifida Association of Iowa, Booster Pak, Junior League of Des Moines, Hispanic Educational Resources, Orchard Place, Kick It Forward, Dorothy's House, Griff Gives Back with the Pet Project Midwest, Meals From The Heartland, Community Youth Concepts, Eat Greater Des Moines, Please Pass The Love, and the Public Interest Law Association. 

To find out who is eating for each nonprofit, as well as other information about this unique charitable fundraising event, visit https://icare.rallyup.com/eatathon2021 
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About the Drake Relays
The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom has served as "America's Athletic Classic" since its first running in 1910. The annual competition, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is recognized internationally as a destination for the world's premier track & field athletes across multiple professional and amateur divisions. In 2021, the Drake Relays was named a Silver Level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, one of only two meets in the United States to earn Silver Level status. In addition to its signature stadium competition, the Drake Relays includes two marquee road running events open to the general public — the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Drake Road Races. For more information, visit drakerelays.org.