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We are excited to announce the 3rd HSJ Online Hope Run/Walk at the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Campus on Saturday, August 5 with a flexible starting time from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Registration forms can be located at Special By Design, WILLLow LeaVes, and Hoosier Sporting Goods.

And we are even more excited that the event's organizer, Todd Grimes, will be back after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Todd made a positive mark as a former FRHC teacher and writes for HSJ. In 2022, participants signed a card wishing Todd the very best; this year, participants will be able to personally congratulate him for being cancer free.

When Todd and I met in 2021 to plan this event, we discussed making it formal or rather informal and chose the informal approach. You can show up any time between 8:30 and 10 a.m. and start your 5K-ish run or walk, which is two laps around the FRHC School Campus (other times are possible by calling David Webster at 812-390-6550); you can take the course seriously and time yourself or take as much time as needed; you can do it individually, with family, or with friends; for those of you with small children, you can take the stroller course around the inside perimeter of the parking lots as many times as desired; if it rains, the Hauser Fieldhouse will be available.

Sally Webster will once again be providing music at the beginning and ending course points where participants will also find water and snack bars. The Hope Police Department will once again block off the road east of the school campus. Schaefer Drive, where runners/walkers can choose the asphalt instead of the grass if preferred.

A complimentary Hope Changes All wrist band will be at the registration table not far from Simmons School with several local businesses offering a discount if wearing the wrist band that day while visiting. If purchasing a Hope Changes All shirt, they will also be on the registration table with the Hope Elementary bathrooms available for those wishing to change shirts.

The HSJ Online Hope Run/Walk is important for several reasons, with one being to support HSJ in reaching our $20,000/year budget as we are now in our 9th year as a not-for-profit, free reading and digital media source for the Hope area. We are hoping for 75-100 runners/walkers/strollers compared to around 50 the previous two years. The Hauser Athletic Department will receive 15 percent of the proceeds as a thank you for FRHC hosting this event.

If wishing to help sponsor this event, please contact one of our team members: Michael Dean, Jessica Deckard, Bud Herron, Don Hewitt, Pastor Warren Kirk, Scott Strietelmeier, Jennifer Villiger, Terri Young, Howard Zachariah, Jenn Willhite, or Stephanie Shoaf.