Competition is stronger than ever, with 64 teams registered for Tucker Community Foundation’s 10th Annual Run For It. Teams come from all around Tucker Community Foundation’s eight county service area and includes one statewide team. Teams are seeking team members and sponsor support to help capture a slice of the over $85,000 that will be awarded on Saturday, September 24 at Run For It, a 2k walk and 5k run around the Town of Davis. Twenty-nine Tucker County teams are raising support and awareness for a wide range of Tucker County programs, projects, and nonprofits.
Our emergency providers will benefit from four teams benefitting organizations that provide or support emergency services. The Govcon Accountants team, led by Mark Vieno, is dedicating their 2016 race proceeds to the Tucker County EMS to support them while they are saving lives. Anne Cecilia Smith and The Deerfield 74 Team are again running for the Katherine Zabriskie Fund for the Canaan Valley Volunteer Fire Department to support needed services in the local community Anne and her family love to come visit. The Canaan Valley Ski Patrol and Team Captain Ray LaMora are racing to assist with ski area safety and first aid all around Canaan Valley Resort. Team Auxiliary Power, under the direction of Diane Beall, is back again to continue to build the Taylor, Beall, & Snyder Family Fund supporting the Canaan Valley Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.
Tucker County animal lovers can support either one of the dedicated teams organized to help animals in the county. Cruisin’ Critters, led by Karen Linton, is running to support the Mountaineer Humane Society’s spay and neuter voucher program for companion animals in Tucker County. New to the race this year is the Friends of the Tucker County Animal Shelter team. Team Captain Kim Falls has led them with a strong start and has been working hard gaining support and awareness for their efforts to fund their special spay and neuter program. Remember Run For It is a dog-friendly event. Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome to run the race without having to register. Water bowls will be provided for them at the water stations.
Revitalizing our local communities is always a worthy cause. Parsons Revitalization Organization (PRO) ON Trac and Team Captain Bonnie Swyter are dedicated to beautifying downtown Parsons and rehabilitating the key historic buildings. With Emily Wilson-Hauger at the helm, the New Historic Thomas team is working hard to connect the downtown Thomas rail trail with the Thomas Trails and eventually Cortland Acres. The revitalized Davis Renaissance team, directed by Karen Peterson, is committed to reinvigorating the beauty and energy of downtown Davis.
Our county libraries are invaluable resources. The Five Rivers Public Library, headed by Dorothy Carr, is running and walking to enhance programs such as summer reading, book club, story time, and more. Ivonne Martinez and the Mountaintop Readers are rallying supporters to help them grow the Mountaintop Public Library New Building Fund and support library programming.
Our burgeoning art community is represented by three committed teams. Stacey Yates and the Alpine Heritage Preservation/Artspring team are steadfastly working towards the restoration of Cottrill’s Opera House as a community cultural hub and the continuation of the inspiring ArtSpring Festival. The always competitive Fresh Canvas, led by spirited Team Captain Glenda Easton, remains committed to growing the Garrett Easton Endowed Fund to support the arts throughout the Tucker County Public School system. West Virginia Highlands Artisans Group has returned to improve awareness and education of the arts for all age groups in Tucker County by supporting Tucker County school art departments, Artspring, the STArt juried art show, and growing the WV Highlands STArt Endowed Fund.
The Friend Family has once again been rallying a ton of support for Team Hannah. To honor the memory of Hannah Friend, Team Hannah’s proceeds go to helping community children fund church camp attendance, youth trips, and weekly youth activities. Young Life reaches out to teens and Chopper Evans and the Eastern Mountains Young Life team is raising money for teens to attend fall weekend and summer camp. WV Mountain Ministries and Team Captain Brad Spencer have had a powerful start in this year’s race, gathering the most team members for the August 1st leaderboard prize. Their team is supporting Canaan Valley Baptist Church outreach, which uses the landscape of our wild and wonderful state to spread their message.
The great outdoors is a huge Tucker County asset and these teams are working to enrich the amenities for local residents and visitors. Heart of the Highlands Trail System, led by Julie Dzaack, promotes, creates, and maintains a system of outstanding quality trails and related amenities. The North Fork Watershed Project, with Team Captain David Young, is running and walking to support the goal of protecting key landscapes and watersheds, natural and human communities, and supporting sustainable development in the watershed. Chip Chase is again working his magic to galvanize Team Boulder Park and raise support for the third and final boulder for the Tucker Boulder Park, to be located behind the Davis Ball Field.
The Davis/Thomas Little League Baseball team and Jay Hamric are working to rouse support for improving Davis and Thomas baseball fields to serve the growing baseball and softball programs. Tucker County Youth Softball, with the energetic Janelle Paul at the helm, provides opportunities for young women and girls to develop a healthy passion and self-confidence, learn leadership and teamwork, and a cultivate a strong work ethic. Jocelyn Gaujot is heading up the Mountain Laurel Learning Cooperative team this year. Mountain Laurel looks to provide a variety of programming that inspires children to become creative, life-long scholars and engaged, compassionate citizens.
Lois Nelson is back with the Cortland Challengers in support of Cortland Acres, a long term nursing care and skilled rehabilitation center. The Billie G. Armstrong team is led by Kathy Kotten this year and is raising money to support the Billie G. Armstrong Endowed Fund supporting pregnancy care in Tucker County. OES Walter Allstars, with Team Captain Cindy Harman, are again raising support for helping families and individuals. New this year is Team Captain Joel Hannah and the WV Gold Star Mother team. The WV Gold Star Mothers is a group of mothers who have lost sons or daughters defending our country. They strive to give back and support our veterans.
The Davis-Thomas Elementary & Middle School (DTEMS) PTO is back in the running to raise support for the restoration of the gymnasium. Team Captain Cynthia Shaffer and the PTO would like to replace the thirty year old bleachers and flooring to maintain a safe gymnasium atmosphere for the students. Team EB3, steered by Team Captain Bink Boury, dedicates their race proceeds to grow the Ellis Boury III Endowed Fund. The Ellis Boury III Fund looks to provide funding to enhance the development of creative or technical writing in young students or professionals, especially those promoting social responsibility, tolerance, and social introspection.
Some regional teams that provide services in Tucker County include the Citizens Bank of WV team, Highlands Trail Foundation, and WV Trout Unlimited. The Citizens Bank of WV team, led by Kathy Leombruno, is again running to benefit the Randolph/Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center which provides the highest standard of care for child victims. Mandy Sullivan is heading up the Highlands Trail Foundation team which is gathering support to develop recreational trail opportunities in the Potomac Highlands. Team Captain Mike Sayre is fishing around for support for the West Virginia Council of Trout
Unlimited. WV Trout Unlimited works to conserve, protect, and restore our state’s coldwater fisheries, their watersheds, and our wild trout.
The Tucker County Commission has been on board since 2009 dedicating funds to reward the hard working Tucker County teams. Their support motivates local teams and has helped them to leverage close to $400,000 for Tucker County causes. This year, six county commissions have pledged over $20,000 in awards for teams in their communities.
Since 2007, Run For It has generated more than $900,000 to benefit community causes throughout the region. Run For It is held on the streets of Davis during Leaf Peepers Festival. The 2k walk and 5k run starts and finishes in front of the Davis Volunteer Fire Department on Route 32. Team photos start at 10am, race line up starts at 10:50 and the racers are out of the gate at 11am. Awards are announced at 1pm. Racers can enjoy music, craft vendors, food and other Leaf Peeper festivities.
Register now to enter the race. Pre-registration ends September 15 but racers can still join your team on Friday, September 23 from 5-7pm or on Saturday, September 24, 8-9:30 am at the fire hall. Team sponsor donations postmarked or made online by September 15 help teams leverage additional support, and donors can support multiple teams. Register or donate online at www.raceroster.com/8610. Entry forms, team sponsor coupons, and other information are available at www.tuckerfoundation.net/run. For more information, call 304.259.5008.
