The Fairbury Fair’s 5K Run and 2 Mile Walk continues to grow as the race saw 40 more runners this year.
The threat of rain Saturday morning didn’t stop participants from running around town to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The tradition began a decade ago, initially supporting local charities and projects.
“About six years ago, we changed it to a race to raise money for St. Jude,” explained organizer Delmar Smith.
Smith said they just wanted to help out the organization since so many individuals are impacted by pediatric cancer.
“They don’t charge anything to the families for the car a child receives at St. Jude,” he added.
Sponsors of the race included: State Farm Agent Greg Kurtenbach, Fairbury Dairy Queen, Tracy Taylor Family Denistry, Henry Handler, Joseph Costa, Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Dyer’s Top Roads, Popejoy Plumbing Heating and Electric, White Distribution and Supply, Casey’s General Store, SELCAS and Petersen Chevrolet-Buick.
Major sponsors are: Turning Point Therapies, Fairbury Chiropractic Clinic, Gibson Area Hospital, Bahler Transportation, Dave’s Supermarket, Merle Norman Cosmetics and First State Bank of Forrest.
Several kids signed up for a fun run which followed the race. As of Friday, almost 40 kids were registered.
“We want to do things to promote healthy living, particularly with our children,” Smith said.
Skies were cloudy as runners took off at the start of the race and the sprinkles began by the time most crossed the finish line on the east end of the fairgrounds. All of the participants gathered at the grandstand for an award ceremony following the race. It’s a good thing they went under the grandstand as heavy rain began to fall in Fairbury by that point.
The race course was changed this year for runners and walkers.
