Letter to the Editor

Generosity goes long way

Sunday, July 8, 2012

To the Editor:

This past Saturday (June 30), I ran the Firecracker 5K run, hosted by the YMCA of Clay County, with my two grandsons, Logan, 10, and Owen, 9.

I had taken time to explain to them that we were not in a race, but we were running for ourselves to accomplish a personal goal.

I explained to them that only the first 100 finishers would receive a medal.

I also told them that since this was their first-ever run, and that since they were so young, that they would have plenty of times where they could compete for medals.

I was so proud of both of them for gutting out their first run.

As we neared the finish line, I allowed Logan, the oldest, to run ahead of Owen and I, since Owen didn't want to go any faster.

After Owen and I finished and we found grandma and the boys' two sisters (Carly and Ally), I saw that Logan had a medal.

I knew we were not in the top 100 and grandma didn't know who had given him his medal.

I was trying to figure out how to explain this to Owen when a gentleman approached us.

He congratulated my two grandsons and asked Owen where his medal was.

Owen explained how he didn't finish in the top 100.

This gentleman once again congratulated my grandsons, then told Owen he did a great job and then handed him his medal.

I just want to say thank you to this gentleman and who ever forfeited their medal that my other grandson received.

Who ever you were, both of you showed the true spirit of the YMCA, the true spirit of runners and just the true spirit of being a great encourager of people.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Carl and Gayla Royer,

Brazil