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Community Corner

Third Annual 5K Run Raises Money, Spirits In Horsham

Between an earthquake and a hurricane, the third annual Relay for Life run raised more than $5,000.

The most impressive fact that comes from Saturday morning’s Relay for Life 5K Run, held at , will be the amount of money raised for Eastern Montgomery County Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society.

A close second is the fact that race organizers Karen Cassidy, Terrie Pancio and Shari Wyllie, a trio of friends who each have very personal reasons to wage a battle against cancer, found a perfect window to run, somewhere between an earthquake and a hurricane.

“We’ve been friends for years and we have taken part in the Relay For Life 24-hour event for years,” Wyllie said. “We wanted to find another way to make money.”

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The trio of runners took it upon themselves to bring their own event to the charity. Both Cassidy and Pancio are teachers at Hatboro-Horsham High School, and Wyllie gives a significant amount of credit to the high school for its impressive level of support to the race.

With the inside of the football stadium unavailable while artificial turf is being installed, runners lined up on the road outside the high school and began what was a mostly flat, runner-friendly 3.1-mile trip around Horsham.

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If you’ve never run a 5K before, keep this event in mind for next summer. While providing needed funds in the fight against cancer, the event is both exciting and inspiring.

Wyllie said the event draws two kinds of people: runners looking for another event to compete in; and those who just want to be part of the charitable work.

Both were apparent Saturday morning.

There were several teams of runners and spectators dressed in the same T-shirts, often sharing a certain name that has inspired their entry. They cheered together before the race, cheered each other on during it, and their positive energy couldn’t help but energize the rest of the field.

As for the pure runners, well, there were plenty of them too.

This was my second 5K of the summer. My first was the June Fete 5K in Abington, which also was the first one I had run in years. I had no idea what was in store for me. I found myself so far behind the lead runner that, when I saw him midway through the race, I honestly didn’t realize we were actually in the same competition.

I ran a respectable time, but vowed to myself that I would learn a lesson for my next race. Instead of sprinting at the start, I’d try to find a good pace so that I could have something left for the final mile.

It all sounded good. Then Wyllie said “Go” this morning, and that lesson went by the wayside.

I was next to a trio of young runners, perhaps members of a high school track team. When they started running, the competitive side of me decided to try to keep up with them. For about 15 seconds, I held my ground.

Then they left me, and I realized my mistake.

The flat course, which winds past the , and incorporates streets, sidewalks and several paved or unpaved paths, was my savior. I ran the first mile in about 6:20, which would have been great if it had been a one-mile race.

The second mile was both a mental and physical challenge. While runners of all ages passed me by, I just kept grinding, telling myself to keep going and find the two-mile marker. Eventually, it had to come.

When it did, more than eight and a half minutes later, I knew one of my two goals was in trouble. Goal No. 1 was to beat Irene, which I felt good about. Goal No. 2 was to top my June Fete time of 23:42. I didn’t feel quite as good about that, but I tried to pick up the pace one more time.

As I kept going, I figured out that the finish line was only a turn or two away. It’s amazing what that knowledge can do to the human spirit (if not always the human legs).

When you make the final turn to the finish line, which was the same location as the start line, you definitely feel the extra surge. With my wife and daughter on the sidelines cheering me on, I made one last push to beat my previous time. I asked my legs for fourth gear, they compromised and went into second. It would be enough for a 23:20 finish (give or take).

I ended up finishing well behind the winner, and well ahead of several others. It didn’t matter, because I knew the cheers I received when I crossed the finish line were the same ones met by those who finished in 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes or beyond.

Simply entering and finishing this event and aiding in the fight against cancer makes the whole field victorious.

This was the most successful year to date for the 5K Run. After averaging nearly $4,000 for the Eastern Montgomery County Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society over the past two years, Wyllie thought that the final 2011 total — which includes registration fees, sponsors and online donations — would exceed $5,000.

Hundreds took part in the event, which was extremely well-organized, especially considering all of the hurricane preparations going on simultaneously and the inability to use the football stadium.

“It does take a lot of time and energy, but the cause is so close to our heart,” Wyllie said. “There is cancer all over our families. It is something so close to our lives.”


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