The New Bremen-New Knoxville Rotary Club Sunshine Project Committee wishes to say thanks very much to everyone who came out and ran or walked in the 1st Annual Sunshine Project 5K Run/Walk, including Benson the Newfoundland therapy dog!! Families, runners of all ages, special needs kids, WCSM Radio, and many Rotarians turned out to support the event on a beautiful Saturday morning at the East Bank of Grand Lake St. Marys.
Over 145 people participated in the event on Saturday May 7th, to raise money and awareness for special needs children in west central Ohio and east central Indiana. All proceeds from the 5K will go to the Sunshine Playground project. The Sunshine Playground is a 100% handicapped accessible ADA-approved playground that will be built at Bremenfest Park in New Bremen and will be the only one of its kind within an 80-mile radius. The Committee has raised over $107,000.00 in committed funds from donations, in-kind services, and grants. The total cost of the project is estimated at $227,000.00, and the Sunshine Playground is scheduled to be completed in August of 2012. The Club has been working on grants and contacting businesses and organizations to raise funds for several months. This event kicked off the public fundraising component of the project. If you'd like to make a donation, visit www.rotarysunshineproject.org for donation information or send your donation to: NB NK Rotary PO Box 101 New Bremen, OH 45869.
The Club would especially like to thank Snap Fitness in St. Marys for organizing the run and for donating all of the door prizes, fruit, awards and proceeds. Thanks also to Subway in St. Marys for donating "free 6" sub coupons" to all of the participants, and to WCSM Radio 96.7FM for covering the event with a live remote broadcast and promotion. The Club would also like to thank Rotarian Barb Topp of Cutaway Styling Salon in Fort Loramie and Hair Expressions in Coldwater for sponsoring the WCSM live broadcast. Joint Township District Memorial Hospital and Grand Lake Health System donated bottled water, and The Dannon Co. donated their products for the event, thanks very much to both of those organizations as well.
To keep up with the Sunshine Project news and information, search for "Sunshine Project" on Facebook and become a friend. And remember this: if you don't think a single life can change the world, consider little Camryn Murgatroyd, the girl who inspired this project. She lost her battle with Microcephaly on May 8th, 2009 but her legacy lives on in this project, and with the special needs playground in Newark, OH. Thank you Camryn for your fight and inspiration!
The smile of a special needs child will change your heart and life forever!
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