10/26/2026
EAST CARTERET HIGH’S MARINER BAND
TO PERFORM at 5K RUN for RECOVERY
(By Beverly Snowden)
Photo ID (ECHS Mariner Band and Band Director, Ashley Wright)
Beaufort, NC—The annual 5K RUN for RECOVERY will take place Saturday, November 14, 2026, along Front Street in Beaufort, overlooking Taylors Creek. The start and finish lines will be at the intersection of Front and Craven Streets, and the race will begin at 8:00 a.m.
Runners and walkers are actively signing up, according to Beverly Snowden, director of marketing & community outreach for Loaves & Fishes of Beaufort. "To register for this energetic, early morning event, visit the link: www.RunTheEast.com Participants may also register the morning of the race.
“As in the past, this year’s 5K RUN for RECOVERY will primarily serve as a fundraising event for the Addiction Recovery Program with Loaves & Fishes of Beaufort and Veterans Services of the Carolinas.
“While a 5K is often thought of as an event for experienced runners, all levels, abilities, and ages are invited to participate. Previous participants have opted to walk with friends or family members, push strollers, and run or walk with their ‘people friendly’ dogs.
“But as a 5K, the serious runners who are dedicated to consistently train are amazing and competitive. Most are hoping to beat their previous finish times. We are excited to see the runners strive to meet their goals, fleeting through the finish line!” said Snowden.
Participants’ packets and their entry T-shirts will be ready for pick-up on Friday evening, November 13, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at Beaufort by the Sea Community Church, 214 Turner Street, Beaufort, NC 28516. Remaining packets will be available the morning of the race at the registration site. This year, the 5K T-shirts are unique, as the shirts will be showcased with a beautiful reminder of the USA 250th Anniversary printed on a sleeve.
Announcements will start early on November 14 at approximately 7:15 am. For race-day registration, it’s best to register at the registration site by 6:30 am. The registration site will be located at John Newton Park, 508 Front Street, beside Taylors Creek, next to the Dock House and under the big oak trees. Water bottles and energy bars will be available for participants. Water bottles will remain available at the start, the turnaround point, and at the finish line. Restrooms are located within a very short walking distance. The race is scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM.
“Along with the announcements and recognition of sponsorships, and special guests, this year’s RUN for RECOVERY has added an exciting feature to the 5K start and finish of the race. As the Beaufort Fire Department raises the U.S, Flag, the state and nationally recognized East Carteret High School Mariner Band (also well known as the Marching Mariners during marching season) will perform the National Anthem with soloist Jackson Wade Wright, a 17-year-old ECHS senior. He plans to pursue a degree in music education/jazz studies at either UNC-Greensboro or the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. This is a tremendous gift from East Carteret High, and we are thrilled that veteran educator and Band Director, Ashley Wright, with 24 years of experience (all 24 years at East Carteret High), along with her 98 band members, agreed to support this year’s 5K with their musical talents,” said Snowden.
“In addition to the morning performance of the National Anthem, the ECHS Mariner Band will perform triumphant and patriotic music as the runners and walkers cross the finish line. We are extremely excited about the band’s amazing support for this year’s event. If anyone is passionate about music and enjoys the sounds of wind instruments and percussion in celebration of the USA 250th Anniversary, America’s Veterans and the 5K participants—come out and support the ECHS Mariner Band on Saturday, November 14. Be sure to be parked early and join the supporters no later than 7:15 am.
“Playing a musical instrument isn’t easy for everyone, but Wright, who spent her childhood in a music-filled home, learning piano from her mother (also an educator, a retired school principal, in fact) and guitar from her grandfather, fully understands the passion for finding one’s fit with the right instrument. Though she started out with piano and guitar, she found her place with percussion when she joined a middle school band,” said Snowden.
“I continued playing percussion throughout high school and while a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” said Wright. “Interestingly, I had originally planned to teach science, but my love for music grew and ultimately led me in a different direction. I was offered scholarships at UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Winthrop University—all as a music major. And through this journey, I was one of the few female percussionists in my high school and college programs,” said Wright.
“Looking back, I didn’t have the strongest confidence in my abilities, and I wish that I had recognized my talent and potential, sooner,” added Wright.
But on the good side of that learning process, those experiences influenced Wright and made a positive impact on her teaching, today. She is committed to her students, guiding them to recognize their abilities, to build confidence, and to understand what they can accomplish.
Wright relates to the students who are just beginning their entry into the music world in ninth grade, their freshman year. She watches them develop into confident performers before their senior year. And clearly confidence eventually reigns, as these musicians have participated in statewide Music Performance Adjudication, earning Superior ratings—the highest rating possible—with both the younger ensemble performing Grade IV music and the advanced ensemble performing Grade VI music. A distinctive aspect of the ECHS music program is that Wright has developed two bands, made up of the same students from the same class with students playing different instruments between the ensembles. The program is the only one of its kind in Carteret County. “This gives the students opportunities to develop additional skills and become more versatile musicians,” she said.
Wright noted that historically, East Carteret High School carries a longstanding tradition of musical excellence. “Arnold Adams served as the Band Director for over 30 years. During his tenure, the band performed twice in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as the Rose Bowl Parade, along with many other prestigious events. At its largest, the band had approximately 200 members,” said Wright.
After Adams retired, the membership declined to approximately 26 students over the next few years. And then Ashley Wright arrived and kicked the program into high gear. She has maintained a membership of 90 -100 students during her tenure. With a school enrollment of approximately 520 students, the band represents a substantial portion of the student body.
“The band performs throughout each school year, including multiple concerts and community events. Recognizing the band’s busy schedule, the team at Loaves & Fishes along with community supporters – all feel greatly blessed that the ECHS Mariner Band will perform for this special 5K RUN for RECOVERY. The opening and the closing of this 5K will be like none other. We are honored to have this opportunity to listen to these talented students as they share their musical gifts with guests and race participants.
Come out and cheer on the runners and walkers—and enjoy the excellent performance from the ECHS Mariner Band,” said Snowden.
And be sure to register for this year’s 5K RUN for RECOVERY. Visit: www.RunTheEast.com and scroll down, click on Race Calendar. Then scroll down to Beaufort, November 14 to find Loaves and Fishes of Beaufort and Veterans Services of the Carolinas, RUN for RECOVERY.
“All of us at Loaves & Fishes of Beaufort sincerely extend heartfelt appreciation to our fabulous community sponsors, dedicated volunteers, and supporters for the 2026 5K RUN for RECOVERY,” said Snowden. “Local sponsorship has grown this year, and we couldn’t sustain our ministry programs without our fabulous community partnerships.
Additionally, we are deeply grateful to the East Carteret High School Mariner Band and Band Director, Ashley Wright, for their generous support. Their first of two performances at the race starts at 7:30 am on November 14, 2026, as they kick-off this year’s 5K RUN for RECOVERY in Beaufort!”
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