Brady Van Deurzen, news@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Lily Guenther, 10, runs alongside her father, Joe Guenther, in the second annual Choose to Move 5K run/walk Thursday at the Shawano County Fair. Guenther was the first female to finish, with a time of 23 minutes, 12 seconds.
The second annual Choose to Move 5K run/walk sponsored by the Rural Health Initiate went off without a hitch Thursday night at the Shawano County Fairgrounds.
Although the number of participants dropped from 92 last year to 41 this year, Rhonda Strebel, RHI executive director, said the event was a success.
“This event is all about being an inclusive, fun 5K run/walk,” Strebel said. “If the runners or walkers had a fun time, then we succeeded.”
Flo Withers, 84, said she enjoyed spending time walking with friends.
“Just to be able to walk around with people is so much fun,” Withers said. “I’d hate to walk all by myself, and here, I don’t have to, I have a nice crowd with me.”
Robyn Shingler, of Shawano, volunteered to help at the event for a second time.
“The Rural Health Initiative is a wonderful cause and I think that it’s something that will catch fire,” Shingler said. “I think that it’s doing a beautiful job an reminding people of the cool amenities that the area has. Helping this initiative is a no-brainer and I wish I could do more to help.”
Being a runner, Shingler considered competing rather than working.
“I would have loved to run in this, but I run all the time, and this is such a great cause that I wanted to help instead,” she said.
Bruce Scheller, of Manawa, posted the event’s best time (19 minutes, 56 seconds).
“I’m a dairy farmer myself, and being that this run was hosted by the Rural Health Initiative, I mean why not?” he said.
Strebel said RHI values its partnership with the fair.
“They have been very supportive of us and have really helped make this work,” she said. “They have provided us with a lot of supplies to allow us to do all of this, and they have just been great partners, and they understand our tie to agricultural too and that we want to support our local farmers.”
The run/walk raised about $1,700 for RHI.
Rural Health Initiative Inc. describes itself as a nonprofit program focused on the growing concerns and barriers related to the health and safety of today’s farm families. Health coordinators make free -in-home visits to farmer and agribusinesses to provide health screenings, offer health coaching, and refer clients to community resources.
Choose to Move
Results
12 and under: 1. Lily Guenther 23:12, 2. Josiah Kuehl 25:08
13-19: 1. Bethany Krewlow 25:14, 2. Allison Stewart 33:08
20-29: 1. Andrea Michonski 46:38, 2. Brianna Olson 46:38
30-39: 1. Liz Conradt 24:32, 2. Julie Relhofer 24:52
40-49: 1. Joe Guenther 23:12, 2. Jeff Ballwahn 33:08
50-59: 1. Bruce Scheller 19:56, 2. Bryan Gagnow 24:03
60 and over: 1. Mary Ann Liefke 40:43, 2. Bonnie Olson 46:38