BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
LAKE BUTLER — Last Saturday morning was a pretty day, not too hot. But no one knew that was how it would be when they signed up to walk or run in a 5K to raise money for the American Cancer Society. They just came to help.
Whole families showed up to participate. Some were cancer survivors, other the loved ones of survivor or those who had passed from the disease. All they knew is they wanted to help…friends and neighbors and even people they would never know, but who needed help to live.
About 280 people entered the event and made the 3.1 mile walk, starting at Lake Butler Hospital and down to the traffic light, then up CR121, hanging a right to get back to SR100 and back to the hospital. Some entrants ran, some walked and some took the opportunity for a good, old-fashioned Southern saunter while other were pushed along the route in wheelchairs and baby carriages. Regardless of their speed, or the time they took to make the trip, make it they did, returning to an event celebrating their efforts to help others.
The event was sponsored by Lake Butler Hospital and Shadd Trucking and both businesses had people on hand to welcome the walkers with a light breakfast before the start of the event as well as treats and gifts for the returning heroes. Many other businesses also helped sponsor the event, showing their humanity and community spirit.
The funds raised from the entry fees, sponsorships, the sale of memorial signs displayed in front of the hospital and donations – one from the Big Willie Dice Run Motorcycle Event, held the previous Saturday, all went to the American Cancer Society for research and outreach.
The event was held in honor of Cassie Driggers, but a number of survivors were honored during the program at the end of the event. Union County really showed the world its heart last Saturday and showed off its compassion and sense of community is a special way.
