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We are excited to announce the sixth HSJ Online Hope Run/Walk at the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Campus on Saturday, August 8 with a flexible starting time from 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. Please help us spread the word! Sponsors are always of great help and very much appreciated. Registration Forms are in the following Hope businesses: Special by Design, WILLLow LeaVes, and Reflections. You also should feel free to contact David Webster at [email protected] or 812-390-6550.

In searching for a theme this year, I was having a conversation with my good friend, Michael Harding, about the importance of always having hope, and he said, “Never lose hope.” I immediately knew that would be the theme. Then, I presented some ideas to Adora Paetzel at Special By Design, and she once again developed a great looking shirt as she has accomplished each year. It will be yellow and, of course, will have Never Lose Hope within the creative orange design.

When Todd Grimes and I met in 2021 to plan this event, we chose an informal approach. You can show up any time between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. and start your 5Kish run or walk which is two laps around the FRHC School Campus. You can take the course seriously and time yourself or take as much time as needed; you can do it individually, with family, with friends, or with colleagues. For those of you with small children, you can take the stroller/scooter/tricycle/bicycle 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 provide music at a course point where participants will also find water and snack bars. The Hope Police Department will 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 Never Lose Hope wristband will be at the registration table not far from Simmons School with several local businesses offering a discount if wearing the wristband that day while visiting. Please take the time to do so if possible. Shirts need to be ordered by Friday, July 31 at the latest. Most shirts will be delivered before the event. If not, shirts will be available on the Registration Table. The Hope Elementary bathrooms will be available for those wishing to change into them before starting.

The HSJ Online Hope Run/Walk is important for several reasons, with one being to support our $22,000 HSJ General Budget as we are now in our twelfth year as a nonprofit, free reading and digital media source for the Hope area. And Todd stated a few other good reasons: “Participants are doing themselves a physical and mental health favor, and it is a wonderful way for families and friends to celebrate and kick off the beginning of a new school year.”

We are hoping for 75 - 100 participants. In 2025, HSJ had a record breaking year with Coach Erica Raisor and the Hauser Volleyball Team being a key. The Hauser Cross County and Track Programs will receive 15% of the proceeds as a thank you for Coach Ben Finke and his team's assistance in prepping the course and running. We can't thank FRHC enough for hosting this event as well as JB Royer and his crew.

HSJ Team: Michael Dean, Jessica Deckard, Pastor Warren Kirk, Scott Strietelmeier, Jennifer Villiger, David Webster, Terri Young, Howard Zachariah, Bud Herron (Emeritus), Jenn Guthrie (Content Coordinator), Stephanie Shoaf (Business Coordinator)