MEDIA CONTACT:Tessa DuBoisVerde Brand Communications tdubois@verdepr.com970.259.3555

Durham, N.C. (Dec. 14, 2015)- Balega, a leading performance sock brand in the run and outdoor specialty markets, presents the annual Ubuntu Award to Big River Running of St. Louis, Missouri. This locally owned running and walking specialty store was given Balega’s community service award for their thoughtful actions and long lasting effects on the lives of the people in their community. The Ubuntu Award was presented to Matt and Katie Helbig at the 2015 Running Event; a running industry tradeshow held in Austin, TX during the first week of December. 

Balega has presented the Ubuntu Award annually for the past ten years to running specialty stores that excel in community service and involvement. Ubuntu originated in Africa and roughly translates to mean “human kindness.” The term, popularized by Nelson Mandela, translates to mean, “I am a person through other people,” meaning only by banding together as a community and working together can we truly call ourselves human. 

“It is clear that Matt and everyone at Big River Running puts community at the forefront of their day-to-day work and overall company mission," stated Tanya Pictor, Vice President of Marketing at Balega. "We are proud to honor them with this award for their clear passion in the run industry and dedication to their local community.”

With community at its core, Big River Running Company has been operating as an independently owned business since 2006. They are proud members of the Independent Running Retailers Association and Independent We Stand organizations. Big River Running makes countless donations to local charitable fundraisers and races every year, supporting all types of physical activity events, from trike-a-thons to marathons. This year, during their “Miles 4 Miracles” fundraising campaign, Big River Running raised over $11,000 in three weeks for a local boy suffering from cancer. Additionally, they raised $3,000 during a 48-hour Semper Fi athlete fundraiser.

“We are a family run business that believes the effect you have on others is the greatest currency there is,” said Matt Helbig, CEO of Big River Running. “We support local and national causes that inspire the community to live an active life, and inspires the next generation to respect themselves by expecting more of themselves. 

Annually, Big River Running gathers more than 1,000 non-perishable items for the Local Food Bank and sends all their shoe donations to families in Guatemala. They also offer popular free training programs to show appreciation for their community and give back to those who shop locally.

With locations in West County, South City, O’Fallon and University City, Big River Running has been acknowledged as one of the nation’s top 50 running specialty stores, every year since it’s opening in 2006.

About Balega International
A leading performance sock brand in the run specialty market, Balega is a designer and manufacturer of technical performance socks and part of the Implus family of brands. With a proud American-South African initiative, the company develops its product in both South Africa and North Carolina production facilities utilizing the best performance yarns produced in the United States. Crafted for a superior fit and unmatched comfort, Balega is committed to the technical excellence, quality, and performance expected in the Balega brand. For more information visit http://www.balega.com.

About ImplusHeadquartered in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, Implus LLC has evolved to become an innovative provider of footwear, outdoor and fitness accessories to its retail partners. Implus’ family of brands includes Sof Sole, Yaktrax, apara, Airplus, Sneaker Balls, Sof Comfort, Little Hotties, Perfect, TriggerPoint, ICETrekkers, FuelBelt, Harbinger and Balega. From insoles, socks and shoe care to seasonal accessories and fitness solutions, Implus proudly distributes its brands to thousands of retail locations across the United States and worldwide. For more information, visit www.implus.com.