West River Health Services Foundation got back into the swing of event marketing once again with their 33rd Annual “Fun Run & Walk” on Saturday, July 3rd. Coming off a Covid-19 Virtual Race last year with only 56 participants, the WRHS Foundation was excited about once again hosting a Live, in-person event. 106 people, ranging from babies to the elderly, walked or ran around scenic Mirror Lake in Hettinger. Thank goodness there were lots of Burkhalters and Jacobsen’s, I’m just sayin.
Everything started with a thoughtful prayer from Alan Wickstrom and a beautiful duet for our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner,” by Tammy Rosso and her daughter April Hruby. The “Little’s Race” for girls and boys 5 and under (about a block and a half) was terrific fun with Genevieve Burkhalter and Clay Fried crossing the finish line first. Then it was on to the “Youth Race” for 6-11 year olds. With a little longer course, just short of a mile, the 6-8 year old 1K speedsters were Maggy Weinert and Samuel Burkhalter; with the 9-11 year old burners being Courtney Schauer and Justin Burkhalter. The latter two sprinted it out together all the way to the tape! All of the winners in their respective age categories received engraved medals for their terrific efforts. The youngest runners this year, all four years old, were Jaxon Ness, Victoria Salazar, Elliot Shahan, and Genevieve Burkhalter. Of course, all youth received collector series Fun Run & Walk t-shirts, headbands and wrist bracelets!
Eventually, we made it over to the Adult 3K Fun Run and Walk starting line. The runners started out quick, as WRHS CEO, Matt Shahan shot off the starting gun. Jonathon Burkhalter blazed around the lake in just over 9 minutes! Yes, he runs competitively for South Dakota State! And there were more amazing runners! Esther Burkhalter and her brother William ran the course to first place in their 12-16 year old division. Hettinger’s Anna Havelka won the 17-29 female category. Erin Hendricks and Scott Waldron circled the pond to win the 30-49 year old division. For the first time in our history, we had no runners 50 or older. Guess, we’ll see lots of the 50+ runners next summer! Of course, Jonathon Burkhalter was our fastest Overall 3K Male runner and Anna Havelka took home the fastest Overall 3K Female Runner award. The most Senior Runner was Steve Dick, who also won the Clydesdale Award for being the fastest 200 pounds+ around the lake. But just barely evidently – as this guy is in terrific shape! Maybe 201!
Our walkers enjoyed their 3K stroll around Mirror Lake as well, as they followed the runners. Linda Stippich was our Most Senior Walker (for probably the 5th or 6th year in a row or longer!) and Addison Fisher was our Youngest Walker. The Jacobsen Family (Dr. Jake) won the Most Family Members Pre-Registered award with 9; just barely beyond the Burkhalters with 8. But can those Burkhalters run or what? WOW!
Once we have all the bills paid and determine our net proceeds, we’ll be sure to report back to you (our supporters), where we’ve placed the net funds from this event. In year’s past we’ve gifted numerous pieces of equipment to our WRHS Rehabilitation Center and more recently, we’ve given back for activities at our Western Horizons Care Center and Assisted Living Center. We’ve also made a huge commitment back to our area communities the last five years or so, with an ice skating rink, free open swims, free fitness classes and numerous healthy youth activities (golf, softball, baseball, cooking, etc,).
Thank you to all of the sponsors of the 33rd Annual Fun Run & Walk – Kennedy’s Fresh Foods, Running’s, Pepsi, Jeremy Galbreth & Mizuno USA, Dakota Western Bank, Dr. Mark & LaNae Kristy, Dr. Mark Nelson, The Ness Family, Dacotah Bank, Stippich Inc., The Peacock Mercantile, Uecker Yards, West River Insurance Agency, West River Vet Clinic, Blue Cross Blue Shield of ND, Bone & Joint Center, Consolidated Telcom, Eye Clinic of ND and Hands On Health.
Special Thanks to Talia Dustman for organizing and Chairing this Committee, plus her TEAM of Cindy Ham, Tammy Rosso, Ted Uecker, Bethany Erickson, Patty Ness, Renee Miller, Lisa Briggs and Lisa Harpster. Plus, thank you to Bart Damjanovich for providing the terrific DJ Music for this year’s event. And to the runners and walkers who make this event what it is – THANK YOU. By the way, we’d sure like to see more runners and walkers for our 34th Annual Fun Run & Walk on Monday, July 4, 2022. We have room for thousands! It only costs $15 if you pre-register. And most all of the net proceeds go back to area communities for healthy activities! TOGETHER we are healthy! Onward!
By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation