“The streets of Woodbury were filled with runners and walkers of all ages last Saturday for the third annual Cannon Runs for Children 5K Run/Walk,” announced Cannon county Child Advocacy Center Coordinator Cassell Galligan-Davis.
The female overall winners were Lexie Ladue (age 14) with a time of 22:22, Miranda Pool (age 29) with a time of 23:59, and Aletha Thomas (age 41) with a time of 28:34. The male overall winners were Bradley Phillips (age 18) with a time of 18:15, Jackie Dawson (age 57) with a time of 20:16, and Antonio Jones (age 11) with a time of 20:47.
The first place adult winners in the master’s category (40+ years old) included: Beth Saddler (age 41) with a time of 37:24 and Lee Piccinillo (age 62) with a time of 21:32.
The oldest winners in the 65 and over category were Sandy Shuburg (age 67) with a time of 43:47 and Robert Pitts (age 74) with a time of 1:11:40. “For Principal Pitts it was the first time he has ever run competitively,” said Galligan-Davis. “We hope to see him back next year!”
The youngest winners were Colt Alexander (age 5) with a time of 43:00, Brady Heiland (age 4) with a time of 53:05, and Pepper Jennings (age 6) with a time of 1:02:20.
73 runners signed up to participate in the event. Runner’s times and awesome event photos are available on the Cannon County Child Advocacy Center website at cannoncac.org. The Child Advocacy Center is grateful to Lisa Marchesoni from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department for donating her services as a professional photographer at the event.
The Honorable Judge Susan Melton stated, “The Child Advocacy Center is a wonderful organization dedicated to making our community a safer place for children. Cannon Runs for Children had runners and walkers of all ages, from age 4 to 74. It was a fun event for the entire family. The best thing about this run is children helping children. The children who ran and walked in the event helped raise funds to support services for Cannon County child abuse victims.”
Cannon Runs for Children raised $6,165 and the funds will be used to provide crisis intervention services free of charge for Cannon County child abuse victims, child sexual abuse victims, drug endangered children and their non-offending parents and family members.
“The Child Advocacy Center is grateful to our wonderful community partners,” said Cannon County Coordinator Cassell Galligan Davis. “This event was FREE for children and youth to run because of all of our wonderful sponsors – Dr. Michael and Aletha Thomas (Jackson, Nancy Caroline, and Sadie), Law Offices of Galligan and Newman, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, Preston Brothers Construction, Tri-Star Title Co., Cody Bailey State Farm, DTC Communications, Experience Christian Community Church, Hoops 5 Inc., Radford’s Wrecker Service, Sonic Drive In, Southern Roots Nutrition, St. Thomas Stones River Hospital, Woodbury Drug Center, Bob Parks Auction, First Bank, First National Bank, Higgins Flea Market, W.L. and Nancy Patterson, Woodbury Funeral Home, Boyd’s Garage, and Gary and Tammy Nichols. Piggly Wiggly donated fruit and bottled water and Double Tree Hotel donated their delicious cookies.”
“There were several people who this race would not have been possible without their assistance,” shared Davis, “our race course designer Coach Brian Elrod, Mayor Andy Duggin and the City of Woodbury for the use of Dillon Park and all of their assistance, Roy Sullivan and the 911 Center for the reverse 911 call notifying neighbors of the race course, Cannon County Sheriff’s Office, Woodbury Police Department, and Cannon County Ambulance Service who supervised road closures and kept the runners safe, our talented artist Chad Davis, and our wonderful media partners at the Cannon Courier, WBRY, and WGNS who helped us promote the run.”
“The Child Advocacy Center wants to say a special THANK YOU to the members of the Cannon Runs Committee,” said director Sharon De Boer. “The 2019 Cannon Runs Committee included Jo Bonner, Ethan Curtis, Cassell Galligan-Davis, Coach Brian Elrod, Venessa Hyer, Judge Susan Melton, Christine O’Day, Catherine Player, Cara Sheffler, Jessica Wauchek, and Anthony Young,” “This committee worked their hearts out to bring an amazing event to our community. We are looking forward to next year’s run!”
The Cannon Runs Committee had lots of fun planning the race. If you want to serve on the 2020 Cannon Runs Committee or for more information about the Child Advocacy Center services for children, please contact Cassell Galligan Davis at (615) 563-9915.