Letter to the Editor

Healthy Fun Run was a success

Sunday, June 12, 2011

To the Editor:

The Rotary Club of Brazil would like to thank every business, organization and individual who helped with the Subway/Rotary Healthy Kids 1-mile Fun Run June 4, in Forest Park.

The program was for kids 5-12, and consisted of eight practice sessions throughout the month of May. A speaker was at each practice and instructed the kids on safety, pacing, stretching, foot care, proper clothing to wear, nutrition, benefits of exercise and goal setting.

Sixty children participate on race day. They ran/walked the mile with most accompanied by a parent or grandparent. Each child received a T-shirt, medallion, water bottle, banana, Subway sandwich and a Governor's Fitness Award signed by the Governor, his wife, Tamika Catchings and Peyton Manning. There was no cost to the kids.

Thank you to the main sponsors -- Subway Restaurant of Brazil and owner Mike Bates, and Rotary Club of Brazil. Thank you to all of the speakers: John Howes of State Farm Insurance, Steve Short of Technifab Products, Dr. Miranda Goodale of Clay County Podiatry, Terry Chamberlain of the YMCA, Tracy Ray of St. Vincent Clay Hospital, Dr. Craig Johnson of Brazil Family Medicine, and to Bruce Rosselli from AllSportspeed.com, a former bobsled Olympian who also works with members of the Terre Haute Rex baseball team.

Thank you to the City of Brazil and Mayor Ann Bradshaw, the Brazil Street Department and Brian Bemis, the Parks Department, Bill Houck and John Day, the Brazil City Reserve Officers Todd Brackman and Steve Lamb.

Thanks to the Clay County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Mike Heaton, Chief Deputy Rob Gambill, 911 Coordinator and Chief Dispatcher Missy Gambill, Clay County Reserve Deputies Jared McCullough, Chris Simmonds, Jay Greig and Tyler Broady.

Thanks to The Brazil Times, Clay Community Schools, Cornerstone Christian Academy, TransCare Ambulance Service and EMS Director Nick Montelaro, Brazil Kroger Store, Brazil YMCA and Director Deb Plummer, First Christian Church Bible Bowl Club Corinna Stewart, Mark McCollum, Kaylee McCollum, Payton McCollum, Darada Allen, Levi Allen, Craig Rice and Kyle Rice.

Thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy to encourage some kids to be healthy and have fun: Marcie Rush, Ernie Rush, Cara Rush, Mary Jo Alumbaugh, Ted Paris, Chris Rodgers, Michelle Rodgers, Rob Dispennett, Duane Butt, Ruthann Jeffries, Steve Messmer, Mary Lee Steuerwald, Jane Robbins, Kathy Modesitt, Richard Dierdorf, Susan Thomas, Denzil Adams, Lena Khudayeva, Lydia Stallcop, Bill McDonald, Dara Campbell, Tom Modesitt, Kathy White, Walt Moore, Hunter Gambill, Carli Gambill and Jim Deal.

If any names were left out, I give a sincere apology. Your help was appreciated and needed very much.

This was truly a community effort.

It was a success and could not have been accomplished without the help of all these people.

And a special thanks to all the kids who participated and made this a fun day for everyone involved.

Miranda Goodale, President, Rotary Club of Brazil, and

Linda Messmer, Subway/Rotary Fun Run Coordinator