The Allen County Sheriff’s Department is teaming up with Zero Reasons Why and the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center to host a fun run May 30 in Iola.
Proceeds will go to support Zero Reasons Why, a teen-led storytelling and community mobilization campaign to prevent teen suicide, promote mental health and remove the stigma of mental health awareness. The organization has chapters in Iola, Humboldt and Marmaton Valley high schools in Allen County.
“Sheriff (Anthony) Maness is big on finding ways to interact with the community, and I’d been wanting to start a run like this,” noted Deputy Patrick Cash, event organizer.
He stepped forward just days before Iola’s Farm-City Days celebration last October to set up a fun run, which went well, but just as importantly, showed Cash how he could make improvements for future events.
The fun run starts at 9 a.m. just south of the swimming pool at Riverside Park and will take runners along either a 5K or 10K route.
The 5K runners will follow a looping course through the south part of Iola, while those in the 10K will follow the Prairie Spirit Trail, and then exit to the east before heading back into town.
Aid stations will be set up along both routes, and some traffic control measures will be implemented to keep the run safe for all, Cash said.
Even those who walk the entire route should be back at the park well before noon.
Registration is $40 for either the 5K or 10K runners. All will receive a medal, designed similarly to badges deputies wear, Cash said.
As of Thursday morning, 28 had registered in advance, possible by following the link at the Allen County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Same-day registration also will be accepted.
HOSTING such events builds on what has become a re-acquired passion for Cash, who ran cross country in high school, but gave it up by the time he graduated.
But an off-hand conversation with his wife a few years back prompted Cash to sign up to run in a Farm-City Days fun run.
He’s been hooked ever since. He ran in five races last year, including his first-ever half-marathon.
Cash also hopes to join the fellow runners Saturday, “as long as I wake up to my alarm clock and get everything set up on time,” he joked.
