“I want to say something to all the kids . . .”
Ray and I participated in our first 5K six years ago. We have continued to do them most Septembers. Saturday we did it again.
Notice that I did not say we ran our first 5K. I said we did our first 5K. The name of the annual event is Run 4 Don. Ray and I Walk 4 Don. This year I told Ray that I wanted to finish with more walkers behind us than we had the last time. We succeeded.
When the gun sounded, we were off and . . . walking.
From this position, you can see that we weren’t exactly leaders of the pack.
When we got to the one mile marker, I said to Ray, “Well, did we break the three minute mile?” He said, “No, but we made it in 20 minutes.” Here’s Ray when we stopped for water shortly after mile 1.
Before the water break, we came alongside a man walking alone. I enjoyed our chat very much. He talked about how he enjoyed his grandsons living nearby. He also said that he wished they could be homeschooled. He goes to church with some great homeschooling families whom I know. I’m not surprised that they have been such good examples.
I hear tell that the serious 15K runners continued on down a beautiful riverview road shortly after the two-mile marker and shortly before Ray and I crossed this bridge and headed back toward Gainesboro.
We actually jogged a little a few times to be sure there were more walkers behind us than last time. When we got close to the finish line, Ray said, “Let’s try to make it before the 55-minute mark.” We tried and succeeded.
Run 4 Don is a fundraiser in honor and in memory of the husband of the art teacher who taught John, Bethany, Mary Evelyn, and me when we were homeschooling. Seven years ago Don was stricken with ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Miss Judy’s husband was a man who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ for decades, who co-led an effective Christian camping experience for a week each summer for children and teens in our area, and who was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
During the six years of Run 4 Don, it has raised $175,000. This year 400 people registered for the race, and this year’s total was $30,000. For an event held in our tiny county seat of 1,000 people in a county of 11,000, those are great totals. The money raised goes to fund scholarships for local students and to fund research for Muscular Dystrophy (ALS is related to muscular dystrophy).
Ray and I go to honor Don, to honor Miss Judy, to be part of a wonderful community event, and to see many people we love in a different setting than we are used to seeing them.
I confess that this year I would probably have paid for my registration and stayed home to rest and get things done, considering that the race fell right in the middle of the most intense two weeks of my year. However, Ray really wanted us to be there. I would have missed out on a wonderful blessing had I chosen to take the easier way. It struck me on Saturday how much it must mean to this family to have people’s physical presence.
During a morning with many precious moments, one was particularly special. During the award ceremonies after the race, Don’s daughter and son spoke. His son began: “I want to say something to all the kids; and by kids I mean anyone who still has a parent alive.” He then encouraged each of us to do something that very day to tell our parents of our appreciation for them. With tears he told us that the day will come when we won’t be able to do that.
I have more to tell you about Saturday, but today I want Don’s son to have the last word.
Honor your father and mother
(which is the first commandment with a promise),
so that it may be well with you,
and that you may live long on the earth.
Ephesians 6:2-3
What a special tribute!
His legacy continues. This year the organizers invited scholarship recipients to come so they could get a photo of them. It’s such a good thing.