The Spring Chicken FUNdraiser held on April 21 allowed runners and walkers, families and friends, to rally around the work of Life’s Choices, a pregnancy and community resource center with locations in Kutztown and Hamburg. This was the second year the event was held at William DeLong Park, Bowers.
“The 5k starts and end in the park and goes through the small town of Bowers and into beautiful Berks County farmland,” Joy Stutzman, executive director of Life’s Choices, said. “The course is almost completely flat which makes for fast times.”
David Crossett was the first runner to cross the finish line this year with a race time of 18:38. He is an attorney who lives in Fleetwood and serves on the board of Life’s Choices.
“It is a great joy to be able to enjoy the Spring Chicken 5K each year with our community,” Crossett said. “Our staff does a tremendous job of creating a truly family-friendly event for a great cause.”
Children ran in a mile-long Chick Chase before runners hit the 5K course while walkers circled the park. Participants were encouraged to find race sponsors to raise ministry funds. Jordan and Stefani Boyer were the top individual fundraisers and “Cheryl’s Brood” the top team fundraiser.
Jordan Boyer was 2nd overall in the 5K and the first in males aged 30-39 group. Other top finishers were Kyle Hernandez (third overall/first in males aged 14 and under group) and Samantha Snyder (4th overall/fastest female). All runners and times are listed at www.pretzelcitysports.com.
Organizers set up inflatables for children at the center of the park. Glad Tidings Church of provided a balloon artist. Other volunteers played music, set up a photo booth or served sack lunches.
A highlight of this year’s meal was a hot chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A of Trexlertown. The restaurant’s mascot, a large ‘cow’ walked around the park, as did the “Spring Chicken’ herself.
There were 120 registered participants in this year’s Spring Chicken. There were 35 volunteers who helped run the event. Business sponsors included Bob Weaver Auto, The Bridge Church, Concern Professional Services, Esbenshade’s Garden Center, Essig Plumbing and Heating, Glad Tidings Church, Glory to Glory Family Church, Hackman Accounting Services, H&R Block of Kutztown, Inspired Financial Solutions, Trinity Bible Fellowship Church and Pasture’s Pride Natural Meats. Other local merchants donated door prizes.
Laurie Williams, director of development, said the event raised $15,000 for Life’s Choices. She believes the day serves a dual purpose: raising funds and building community.
“We love seeing individuals and families come together for a common cause and it is a privilege for us to create the venue to do so,” Williams said, “We hope this event will grow each year and be something that people anticipate each spring.”
With a staff of six part-time employees and the support of volunteers, student groups and community churches, Life’s Choices offers pregnancy and STD testing, confirmation ultrasounds, one-on-one childbirth and parenting classes and mentoring in healthy relationships and finances. They also teach classes to teens on sexual-risk avoidance and healthy relationships.
All of Life’s Choices services are confidential and provided free of charge to clients. For details on Life’s Choices, visit www.LifesChoicesSupport.org or email LifesChoices@hometownu.com. Both locations also have a Facebook page.
