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The 5th “HSJ” Hope Run/Walk will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, August 9 with a flexible starting period. 

David Webster will be there very early and later if preferring another time that day. The Registration Area will be somewhat close to Simmons School and the track. Registration Forms are at Special By Design, WILLow LeaVes, and Reflections, or you can contact David Webster at 812-390-6550. We are pleased that records are being established with 80 participants walking or running and 100 shirts ordered at this date. (Jenni Richards, Reflections, suggested the green with yellow shirts for 2025.) You can register now or on the day of the event but need to get your shirt order in by Tuesday, August 5 if wanting one that day. The event is of utmost importance to our $20,000 budget and maintaining a local media source as the Hope Community has supported for many years, and we are pleased to give 15% of the proceeds to the Hauser Cross Country and Track Program.

We would like to extend a special thanks to our wonderful sponsors: Ken & Nancy Chandler, Michael & Tina Dean, Mike Deckard for Deckard Tool & Engineering, Bradley Dickens for Hauser Class of 1993, Brad & Cindy Hamilton for Hamilton Accounting, Ashley & Braden Loyd for Norman Funeral Home, Scott & Anita Mings for Raymond James, Aaron & MarLen Slagel, Jackie & Dan Tallent for Gold Nugget Pawn Shop, Sarah Ward for WindRose Health Network, David & Lisa Webster. Of course, it is not too late to become a sponsor.

Participants wearing their green wristband will receive a discount the day of the event from the following local businesses: AH-HA Corner Cafe (Free Small Ice Cream Cone &Sally Performing During Lunch), D's Variety Store (10% Off), Gold Nugget Pawn Shop (10% Off Selected Items), Major's True Value (10% Off), Special By Design (10% Off), Swiss Maid (10% Off), Tonala Mexican Restaurant (10% Off), WILLow LeaVes (10% Off Monday Since Closed on Saturday) and Duck Creek Gardens (10% off for those wearing green wristband). Please note that store hours vary. We really appreciate local businesses working with us to make this event even more special.

The 5K-ish Course is one lap around the track and the outside perimeter of the Flat Rock-Hawcreek Campus and then another lap. It can be a leisure walk or a timed run; it can be the entire course or part of it; it can be the designed route or a different one. The Hope Police Department will block off Schaefer Drive to help assure safety of walkers or runners choosing the asphalt surface over grass, and the “HSJ” Team will be at several school intersections to help assure safety and provide direction. The Child Course is several times around the inside perimeter while staying on the asphalt. Strollers, scooters, tricycles, or bicycles might be the preference of younger children participating over walking. Several bathrooms will be available. Water and energy bars will be provided as well as trash cans by Heritage of Hope. Sally Webster will be doing acoustic sets and knows many songs, including songs for kids. It is likely just a matter of requesting your favorite. In fact, her sponsor has already requested John Denver songs. If by chance it is raining, JB Royer, Facility and Transportation Director of FRHC, will have the Hauser Fieldhouse available where 24 laps become the 5Kish Course and the Child's Course will be on the interior of the track.

Hauser graduate, Bradley Dickens, has made it a point to travel several miles to attend each year as well as to sponsor. Why? Bradley said, I look forward to the “HSJ” Run for several reasons. It's great to be able to come back to Hauser and take a couple of loops around the campus. As a former Cross Country member, it's very nostalgic. I worked for the “Hope Star-Journal” with Charlie Biggs and believe keeping this institution in our community is important to all of us. Being able to benefit “HSJ” while seeing some friends makes for a really great time.”

We are looking forward to this event on Saturday, August 9, selling Duck Creek mums again starting in August, and the “HSJ” Benefit at WILLow LeaVes on Saturday, November 1.

Michael Dean, Jessica Deckard, Bud Herron, Don Hewitt, Pastor Warren Kirk, Scott Strietelmeier, Jennifer Villiger, David Webster, Terri Young, Howard Zachariah, Jenn Guthrie, Stephanie Shoaf, as well as Todd Grimes