FAIRHOPE, Ala. — It’s been 30 years since runners, joggers, and walkers crossed the finish line of the inaugural Spring Fever Chase.

Sponsored by Thomas Hospital and Wachovia, this annual 10K run and 2-mile fun run sends participants on a picturesque course through Fairhope’s neighborhoods and along Mobile Bay. And while most are vying for a first-place win, many are just as happy to get the coveted race T-shirt.

Since the run’s inception, the shirts have feature commissioned artwork by a local artist. This year, hometown girl and popular artist Ameríca Jones-Gallaspy pays homage to three decades of athletes with her art entitled “Thirty-Fish.”

While the T-shirts are adorned with a digital image of the piece, the original art is three-dimensional, rectangular in shape and fabricated of metal. A repetitive pattern of numbered fish, painted in undersea hues of blues and greens, seemingly swims across the sculpture’s metal base into an orange sunset.

“The 30 fish represent each of the past years,” Jones-Gallaspy said. “I also incorporated the sunset from the original Spring Fever Chase logo. To me it evokes the beauty of our area and Thomas Hospital’s longtime contribution to our community.”

While every participant gets a T-shirt, the race winners in each category of the Spring Fever Chase, scheduled for Saturday, March 15, receive a matted or framed digital image of Ameríca’s sculpture. The original work will hang in Thomas Hospital for the entire community to view and enjoy.

“We are very excited about this year’s artwork,” Gayle Fogarty, race committee chairman said. “The original is such a unique piece, and truly represents the beauty of the area. So many people are drawn to the Spring Fever Chase because the race course itself is so appealing. With azaleas and dogwoods in bloom, and of course the view of Mobile Bay, it is really a special course. The translation of Ameríca’s artwork on the T-shirt and on the digital print will definitely be crowd-pleasers.”

For more information, call (251) 990-1518.