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Bright skies greet Habitat run, walk participants
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
POLAND
Clear skies and sunshine greeted runners and walkers participating in a charity fundraiser.
About 135 people participated Saturday in Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley’s 17th annual Home 5K Run and 2-Mile Walk.
“I thought it would be a good race,” said Tara Skeen of Hillsville, Pa. “It’s close to where I live, and it’s for a good cause.”
Skeen, who has been running for a year and a half, enjoys participating in 5K runs.
“I obviously love to run,” she said. “And [5Ks are] usually for good causes.”
Madison Richey, 13, Anna Hughes, 14, and Jenna Hughes, 12, all run cross country.
“We heard about this, and we realized how great a program [Habitat] is and decided to run it,” said Anna of Springfield.
Running is a family pastime, her sister Jenna said.
“I like it,” she added.
Running “gives me a thrill,” Madison, of Poland, said.
It’s good for them, Madison’s mother, Tammy Richey, said.
“They enjoy it. It gets them out there running. It’s good to support organizations like this,” she added.
The event is Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley’s biggest fundraiser of the year, said Monica Craven, director. She expects this year’s to raise about $6,000.
“That would be one of our best-ever fundraisers,” she said. “And with the number of racers we have, I think we’ll have no problem hitting that number.”
The money is used to build houses for low-income families, she said.
The bulk of the money raised is used to build houses in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. A small portion is used to build houses internationally, in places such as Haiti.
Habitat builds houses for qualified low-income families and individuals and sells them for no profit, with affordable mortgage payments and zero-percent interest. All families are required to complete 250 to 500 hours of “sweat equity” and attend homeowner classes.
The local Habitat was founded in 1989 and has since built and/or rehabilitated 96 homes locally and 20 internationally.