BY CARL BURNETT JR. • The Eagle-Gazette Staff • April 25, 2010Participants and volunteers gather at the third annual Strides for Mental Health 5K Walk/Run on Saturday morning in downtown Lancaster. The third annual event raises awareness in the community about mental health issues. This year, 212 people pre-registered to participate in the run/walk. (Abigail S. Fisher, Eagle-Gazette)
LANCASTER –The rain cleared away for a couple of hours Saturday, giving runners and walkers participating in the Strides for Mental Health 5K Walk/ Run near ideal conditions for the annual event.
This is the third year for the downtown event that focuses on raising awareness of mental health issues in the county.
For Mike O’Neil, of Lancaster, it was a way to support a worthy cause and a chance for him to exercise with his family. Running with him was his wife, Eve, and daughters Kimberly and Katy.
“We’ve get involved in about four or five events like this a year,” Mike said. “We have a niece with leukemia, Ally, and we participate for her sake and others like her.”
For Kendall Hunter, of Stoutsville, the reason to participate was simple.
“I like to run,” the 10-year-old said.
Kendall’s mother, Kim, also ran in the event and said she came to support the cause because of friends who work in the mental health field.
“It’s a great cause,” Kim said.
Brad Hedges, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Psychological Services Inc., said the event seems to keep growing every year.
“This year, we had 212 people preregister and had another 40 register before the race began,” Hedges said. “This year, we have an incredible mix of runners from the very young to old.”
Hedges said the race was important to get the message out about the problems facing the community.
“The mental health community is expecting another $400,000 in cuts on the state and federal level,” Hedges said. “It’s vitally important to get our message out to the people about how important these problems are in our communities.”
In 2009 the Mid-Ohio Psychological Services provided services to 2,764 clients, with half of them children and about half of the clients coming from Fairfield County. Around 80 percent of the clients are involved with the court system and/or a children services agency.
The top overall male winner was Rob Moore, Groveport, who made the 5K race in 17 minutes, 25 seconds.
“This is the first time I participated in this race,” Moore said. “I was here to attend a track meet with my kids and thought I would make the run.”
Diana Dick, Junction City, was the top overall female winner with a time of 20 minutes, 54 seconds.
“I run six days a week and love it,” Dick said.
She improved over her standing from last year when she came in second overall.
“It’s was a great chance to support our community,” Dick said. “And it was great the rain stayed away for the race. It was a good run.”
Hedges said all the winners from Saturday’s race will be posted by early next week on the agency’s website, www.mopsohio. com.
Carl Burnett Jr. can be reached at (740) 681-4346 or cburnett@nncogannett.com.
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