Business
Spring is the season not only for new life in the world, it is also a time of renewal for nonprofit organizations, which often host their major public fundraising events during the months of April, May and June.Here in western Virginia, no event has been more anticipated than the inaugural Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon, which had been scheduled for June 7. IRONMAN was projected to have a local economic impact of nearly $9 million, and bring in more than 2,500 athletes and 10,000 spectators. But with the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging our region and country as a whole, last week the decision was made to postpone the race for a year, rescheduling it to June 6, 2021.The triathlon is organized by Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the region's official destination marketing organization. BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill talks with Catherine Fox, vice-president of Public Affairs & Destination Development at Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge, about the event, and the decision to postpone due to the coronavirus crisis.