Teams Run for Tucker County
October 11, 2011 The Parsons Advocate
Three local teams ranked among the top five teams participating in the Tucker Community Foundation Run For It. Team Hannah, Fresh Canvas and Riverfront Ramblers raised significant support for the Tucker community.
Team Hannah, led by Marie, Billy & Jennifer Friend, walked and ran in support of the Hannah Friend Memorial Fund that awards youth camp scholarships and supports youth church activities. The team raised $3,475 in sponsor donations, multiple awards added $4,250, and ½ of the team’s entry fees added another $485 to their total proceeds. Awards included: Caroline Miller $500 First to Finish 2k Walk Adult Female, Marie Friend $1,250 Fastest 5k Adult Female/ overall, $1,000 Best Effort for team spirit and efforts to raise awareness and donor support, $1,000 Tucker County Commission Award, and $500 for the 6th place in the Top Fund Raising Team category.
Several other teams raised funds for youth groups. The Tucker County Lady Mt. Lions, led by Michelle Snyder, ended the day with $870 for the TCHS girls’ basketball program. Team member Tyler Snyder won the $500 First to Finish 2k Adult Male category.
Team Tumble Time, led by Sarah Hicks raised support for their competitive gymnastics team to help offset meet fees and provide operational support. Ridge Runners ran for the Falling Green Fund. The fund awards annual grants in support of 4-H, youth equestrian programs and other youth activities. Team member Kailyn Kraemer, 11 months, won the Most Junior Participant medallion.
Fresh Canvas, led by Glenda Easton, had fifty seven team members lined up to walk in memory of Garrett “Dutch” Easton. Proceeds support the Dutch Easton Fund that was initiated and later established with multiple Run For It proceeds and with generous donor support. Proceeds for the 2011 team totaled $9,480; over three years, the team has generated proceeds totaling $20,125. The Easton Fund awards grants in support of creative arts in Tucker County schools.
The Riverfront Ramblers, led by David Faunce, captured 2nd place ($2,500) for the Team Raising The Most $$ Overall category. In 4 years the team has generated proceeds exceeding $60,000 for maintenance and improvement of the Davis Riverfront Park. Other 2011 awards included a $1,000 Tucker County Commission Award and 89 year old team member Carolyn Koska-Pell won the Most Senior Participant medallion.
Cruisin’ Critters led by Karen Linton raised $550 for the welfare of companion animals in Tucker County. Proceeds support the spay/neuter program of the Mountaineer Humane Society. Canaan Valley Fire Department ($600) and emergency services ($235) will benefit from the team efforts of Deerfield 74 led by Anne Cecilia Smith and The Trail Mix led by Janice Youngblood.
Team North Fork raised awareness and $735 for the North Fork Watershed Project. Athey Lutz, team captain, took first place in the 5k 20-29 age division. The team also won Honorable Mention in the Best Effort category.
Team Mountain Hospice, led by Phoebe Mollard, raised $7,250 for the Shaffer Mountain Hospice Fund that provides quality care to patients in Tucker County and surrounding areas.
Two library teams rounded out the field of Tucker County teams: Mountaintop Readers, for Mountaintop Library (Thomas, led by Ivonne Martinez and Friends of the Five Rivers Library (Parsons) led by Cherie Rike. Awards for Mountaintop Readers included $100 2k Luck of the Draw Sheila Coleman Castelles, $500 Ed Rader 2k First to Finish Walk Masters Male, $500 Debbie McHenry Fastest 5k Masters Female, $1,000 Best Effort team award, and $1,000 Tucker County Commission Award. Friends of the Five Rivers Library will receive $2,246 in race day proceeds. The team was awarded an Honorable Mention ($300) in the Best Effort category. Seven libraries from three counties were represented in this year’s race. Since the Run For It program started in 2007, public libraries in the region served by TCF have collectively received more than $94,000 from race proceeds. Those funds have potential to leverage matching grant funds from the state.
Other causes represented by racers that did not register teams include the Tucker County Connections program, Ryan Gosa Memorial Scholarship Fund, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Diabetes, the McClain Fund, Boy Scout Troop 96/ Dr. Thomas P. Patrick, DDS Fund, domestic violence, the Blackwater Ministerial Association Food Bank / Cooper Family Fund, the McNeeley Cemetery Fund, and the Directors’ General Fund of TCF.
Proceeds from Run For It 2011 exceeded $90,000 making it the most successful race since the event started in 2007. Since 2007, $30,000 of the Tucker Community Foundation’s unrestricted funding has leveraged more than $290,000 to benefit organizations, projects and charities willing to run or walk for it. The annual program kicks off April 1 and culminates with a 2k/5k walk and run held the last weekend in September during Leaf Peepers Festival in Davis. Race proceeds benefit nonprofits and charitable causes in the region served by Tucker Community Foundation. For more information, contact the Foundation office at 304-478-2930 or visit www.tuckerfoundation.net
