9th Annual Run for a Reason raises $12,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

by Travis Farran

Run for a Reason, the annual family event held in El Dorado Springs for the 9th year, was established to promote awareness, advance treatments and support research involving childhood cancer through St. Jude and at the same time promote health and fitness in the El Dorado Springs Community.

Over 300 participated in either the timed 5K run, two mile walk, and 1⁄4 mile kids dash.

Local St. Jude patients Khloie Farran and Haleigh Ridgeway served as honorary starters. The Watkins family hosted the course water station in memory and “Love for Lanie”. The El Dorado Springs Optimist Club donated proceeds of $810 from their pancake breakfast held in conjunction with the event.

First place male finisher in the 5K race was Dave Cauthon with a time of 18:40 and first place female finisher was McKinzie Newman with a time of 23:12.

Platinum sponsors for this year’s event were The Optimist Club of El Dorado Springs, Tri-Lakes Eagles Aerie #4279, National Control Devices and Hooper Farms. Gold sponsors included Shelter Insurance-Travis and Melanie Farran, Evans Drugs, Housh Family Dentistry, Cedar County Memorial Hospital, Mike’s Auto Sales, Mercy, Sheldon Funeral Home, Randy Bland Used Cars, Brower Real Estate, The CPA Firm, Cedar County Abstract and Title Co., Love for Lanie-Brandon and Tessie Watkins family, Bo and Shirley Simmons, Sac Osage Electric Cooperative, Mid-Missouri Bank, Althoff Auto Sales, El Dorado Collision, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky and The Graphic Edge.

Silver sponsors were Team Kricket, Shannon and Associates Real Estate and Auctions, Physicians Medical Supply, Show-Me Country Metals, Advantage Title & Abstract LLC, Ted T. Bozarth, D.D.S., Mitchell Veterinary Clinic, Smith Feedlots, Home Team Realty, Shamrock Septic Service, Witt Printing Co., Fugate Motors, Allison Quick Lube, DJ Sergeant Pete, Santa Paula Awning Co., Nine Wonders Optimist, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home, Miller Construction LLC, Gavin Heuser and Friends, Craig Lehman Shelter Ins. and MEEKS.

The organizers of the event are appreciative of all the race sponsors, participants and volunteers in continuing to make it a success. All proceeds go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by the late entertainer, Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, TN, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family’s ability to pay.

St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org. Patients and families such as those in the local community who have received services of St. Jude are direct beneficiaries of such events.

We thank the community for embracing and supporting the Run for a Reason.

Thank you, El Dorado Springs, for supporting the kids of St. Jude. See you next year.

HONORARY STARTERS – of the 9th annual Run for a Reason were local St. Jude patients Khloie Farran and Haleigh Ridgeway. Photo by Chance Thompson.

RUN FOR A REASON WINNERS – The two overall winners of the Saturday morning Run for a Reason were: First place overall female winner, McKinzie Newman – winning time of 23:12; and First place overall male winner Dave Cauthon – winning time of 18:40.

MORE RUN FOR A REASON PHOTOS NEXT WEEK!