Going the distance: Annual HDH Foundation 5K Family Fun Run/Walk held at Rocky Fork Lake State Park
By STEVE ROUSH
The Highland County Press
On a chilly Saturday morning, more than 100 runners and walkers took part in the second-annual Highland District Hospital Foundation Family Fun Day Run/Walk.
The annual run/walk, which was held at the Rocky Fork Lake State Park North Shore Activity Center, began at 10 a.m. with temperatures in the mid-40s and was followed by a free children’s race. All proceeds from the event go toward the purchase of a digital mammogram unit.
“It was another great turnout and I’d like to thank the community for their continued support of the foundation,” HDH Foundation Director Cathy Jones said.
“We couldn’t have done this without all the volunteers from the hospital who were out here bright and early to help set everything up.”
Jim Patton, of Hillsboro, was the overall winner as he finished the 3.1-mile course in 21:19. Carol Grate, of Greenfield, was the overall female winner with a time of 21:40.
“It’s a bit chilly, but overall, it was a good day for the race,” HDH CEO Jim Baer said. “Cathy does a great job for the foundation, and I want to thank all of our volunteers and all of our sponsors.”
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Prizes were given to winners of several age divisions for the runners and walkers.
• In the male 15-and-under group, Bobby Merry finished first with a time of 25:51, followed by Asher Rensing (27:00), Jeff Beery (27:12) and Alex Rensing (32:57).
• In the male 16-19 age group, Adam Perry finished first with a time of 29:02, followed by Dakota Edmisten (29:25).
• In the female 16-19 age group, Debbie Coomer was first with a time of 32:47.
• In the male 20-29 age group, Eric Lennartz took first with a time of 22:46, followed by Jason McConnaughey (25:26), Tony Beatty (27:36) and Brody Burson (28:35).
• In the female 20-29 age group, Lauren Weekes was first with a time of 33:18.
• In the male 30-39 age group, Joseph Hart was first with a time of 22:48, followed by Bobby Schurman (23:55), Phil Schurman (24:16) and Andre Sexton (24:51), and in the female 30-39 age group, Beth Ballein finished first with a time of 24:49, followed by Tara Beery with a time of 27:13.
• In the male 40-49 age group, Brad Roades was first with a time of 21:59, followed by Charles Meyer (23:04), Mike Garen (25:47) and Jeff Beery (27:17), and in the female 40-49 age group, Michelle Patton was first with a time of 25:14, followed by Sharon Bick (25:21) and Rhonda Hilderbran (28:43).
• Jeff Patton won the male 50-59 age group with a time of 22:15, and was followed by Don Paul Kirk (25:08), Bruce Davis (25:45) and Mike Bick, and in the female age group 50-59, Tamara Irvin finished first with a time of 35:20, followed by Kay Gross (36:36) and Kathy Wagoner (51:12).
• In the male 60-and-up age group, Robert Hottle took first with a time of 26:59, and Nancy Sweet finished first in the female 60-and-up age group with a time of 36:00.
• Of the walkers, Elena Zint was the overall female winner with a time of 35:07, and Kevin Greer was the overall male winner with a time of 44:32.
The Highland District Hospital Foundation was formed to build a bridge between the community and the hospital.
Its role is to encourage community involvement in the hospital’s future through financial support and to manage that support to the maximum benefit of the hospital and the people using its service.
The 2012-13 board of directors includes: Vicki Rhude (chairman), Brian Mycroft (vice-chairman), Sue Davis Thompson (secretary), Deborah Rhude (treasurer), Sue Boone, Larry Burns, Craig Edgington, Christopher Fauber, Ann Fender, Richard Graves, Wendell Harewood, Todd Heskett, Pam Limes, Peter Pence, Steve Roush, Lance Smaltz, Shane Wilkin and Chad Wilson.
The foundation is also raffling off a golf cart that will be given away at the Nov. 10 Highland District Hospital “Country Glitz” Gala.
Raffle tickets are $20 each, and are available from any HDH Foundation board member and at the HDH gift shop.
For more information about the annual gala or the golf cart raffle, call 937-393-6534 or 937-393-6360.