The Civil Rights Race Series and the family of Aurelia Twitty are proud to announce the
Aurelia Twitty "Spirit of Champions" Award.

This annual award will be presented to an individual in recognition of their respective compassion to health and wellness, to include their service and contributions to the community.  The individual selected will receive a plaque and a monetary award in Aurelia's name.

Aurelia Twitty was born in Washington, DC where she spent her first 11 years before moving to Warwick, NY to live with her Grandmother which is where she finished high school. She was an avid runner and held a few New York state track records. She returned to Washington to attend the University of the District of Columbia on a track
scholarship. In addition to running, Aurelia enjoyed working out, biking, and many different forms of fitness. She was a constant encouragement to so many on their own fitness journey.

Aurelia was an active participant in numerous programs over the years to help young people to not only work on fitness, but also work on becoming the best possible version of themselves. She was a coach for Girls on the Run- DC for 8 years where she mentored and inspired hundreds of young girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using running as a way to integrate these qualities.

Aurelia was a staple in the community whether volunteering for numerous Parent Teacher Associations or serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for a Public Charter School in DC. She and her husband were also Foster Parents in the county they live in, specifically choosing to Foster teenagers, which is the hardest group to place. She was a pillar of every community she lived in and positively impacted the lives of so many. She lived life to the fullest, unabashedly making her mark on all who she encountered.

On behalf of the Civil Rights Race Series and the Twitty Family, it is an indeed pleasure to present this prestigious award to an individual who displays similar traits as Aurelia.

Aurelia Twitty "Spirit of Champions" Award Guidelines:
*All candidates must be nominated by a team captain or riding partner.  There is only one candidate eligible per registered team.
*Single ultra runners will be allowed to nominate themselves.
*All candidates must be registered for the 2026 event.
*The form must be completed and submitted no later than Sunday, February 1, 2026.
*The winning candidate will receive a $200 cash prize and a plaque in honor of Aurelia Twitty.
​To nominate a race participant for this award, please click on the link below:
Spirit of Champions Nomination Form