"Take the Lake" 5k Run/Walk

The "Take the Lake" 5k Run/Walk was held last Saturday evening near Greers Ferry Dam. All proceeds from this event went to The Christian Health Center of Heber Springs, which provides affordable, quality primary health care for the uninsured and those with inadequate financial resources, utilizing the volunteer services of health professionals from Heber Springs and the surrounding area. A huge group of volunteers rallied to produce this event. I offered to do press releases and handle media publicity. Pictured are Drs. Sarah and Chris Tate crossing the finish line, our friends Fred Davis (#350) and Cynthia and Ryan Kashbohm (#12) catching their breath after the race, and our very own Stephen and Ladd Choate. Laddie had the time of his life running and playing with all of the other children. He had plenty of people who love him to look after him while Stephen worked the finish line, Melissa ran with the women from her walking clinic, and Granddaddy took care of Ada Jane!

















Don Burns, on-air morning personality for Spirit FM, our new local Christian radio station, came and set up his tent, so that he could present the awards after the race. He even participated as a walker!

There were probably 175 runners/walkers, and I don't know how many children who participated in an earlier "children's race" in Dam Site park. The main race started at 6:00 p.m. at JFK Overlook and brought the participants across Greers Ferry Dam, into Dam Site Park, and through the park to the front entrance... a 3.1 mile course. One of the youngest participants was Cale Anderson, the son of our friends Boyd and Shannon Anderson. Cale is only 4, but he "ran" most of the race. Since he was one of the last finishers, there were plenty of people at the finish line chute to cheer him on, and I am sure Cale thought he'd won the Olympics! These photos are of Cale as he finishes (Stephen Choate is on the left taking his bib info), then with his dad, and then hi-fiving his mom. It was a great event and a wonderful evening for families to come out and enjoy fantastic weather and a wholesome even for a good cause. No word on how much money was raised yet!













As for the rest of Springfest... a huge thunderstorm arose just at start of the chair auction. There might have been 50 people in the room - seven chairs. Mine struggled to pull in $45. Thanks to the auctioneer's wife, Cheryl Orr, for purchasing my chair!