When it came time to think about what it was that I could do to keep the memory of my son alive and give back to the community, my first thought was of how proud he was of my ability to run marathons.  Since I am a runner and truly enjoy the sport, I thought, why not a race - especially since we could have a 1k (.62 miles) for the smaller children and a 5k (3.1miles) for the “bigger” children.  

Running is a sport that is relatively inexpensive, all you need is a good pair of running shoes and a place to run – it is a sport where you compete against yourself and a very easy way to get fit and stay healthy.  The nice thing is anyone can walk 3.1 miles – it doesn’t have to be fast, it can be a relaxed, easy walk…and if you can walk it, you might find yourself enjoying it and who knows, walking might turn into running.

The decision to have a poster design contest for children in the community was to provide a chance for the children to tap into their creativeness, as well as to give a couple of children an extra sense of pride.  What child would not be proud to see something they created being displayed throughout the community? 

I really do want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have shown such great support and kindness! None of this could be done without our runners and walkers, volunteers and sponsors.

Cheers to our most successful 1K and 5K to date!

Keep on running, keep on remembering, and keep on supporting those who are sometimes forgotten.

For more information on the Hawkins Bar Volunteer Fire Department: