The Tobacco Road Marathon (TRM) is a non-profit organization based in Cary, NC, led entirely by VHB and other community volunteers committed to their passion for running and giving back to their local community. In March, VHB was also the title sponsor for the Tobacco Road Half Marathon. With the help of our corporate sponsorship and volunteer support, TRM surpassed their 2024 goal, raising and donating more than $160,000 to local and regional charities. Since 2010, the marathon has raised more than $1.8 million for its partner charities, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a VHB Cares selected organization. VHB Cares is a group of VHB employees who give back to our communities annually and is followed by a dollar-for-dollar match from the company.
One of TRM’s dedicated volunteers is VHB’s Sean Nicol, PE. He has been an active volunteer since 2014 and currently serves on the marathon’s Board of Directors as the Sponsorship Director. Sean is a Transportation Engineer in VHB’s Raleigh office who has designed numerous pedestrian and bicycle facilities, completed safety audits, and provided traffic records technical assistance for federal, state, and local clients. Between his running hobby and engineering career, Sean is intimately familiar with the needs of pedestrians within the Triangle area.
“Sean brings a valuable perspective to transportation projects at VHB considering his extensive connection to the local running community,” said Reggie Scales, Raleigh Managing Director. “He can spot potential pressure points in real time and incorporates details that positively impact the safety of pedestrians and drivers. We are incredibly fortunate to have him as a part of our transportation team and community.”
In addition to corporate sponsorship, VHB’s Raleigh Green Team hosted a race cleanup after the event. While the runners focused on finding the finish line in record time, we collected discarded clothing, debris, and trash scattered along the race’s course. VHB’s Green Team members are an important part of weaving sustainability into our day-to-day operations and encouraging fellow VHBers to help make a difference within the community.
The TRM overlaps with 21 miles of the American Tobacco Trail (ATT), a recreational rail-trail located on an abandoned railroad corridor of the Norfolk Southern Railroad. Famous for its mostly flat route and downhill finish, the TRM is popular with runners looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon and has historically seen up to 18 percent of marathon participants reaching this milestone each year. The event attracts approximately 4,000 runners and is an economic staple for the Triangle community.
Learn more about our commitment to social responsibility at VHB.
