On Saturday, April 23, Cairn University cohosted the first Cairn Cares 5K, Virtual 5K, and 1 Mile Fun Run with ChoiceOne Pregnancy and Sexual Health Centers. Despite the grey skies, over 140 gathered on campus to run the 5K or walk the 1 Mile Fun Run to raise support and scholarships for mothers facing unplanned pregnancies. Including the virtual 5K participants who could not make it to campus, over 250 people were involved in the event.
In October, Cairn announced a partnership with ChoiceOne, a Christ-centered organization dedicated to providing support and resources, such as STD screening, counseling, parenting classes, and employment training for women and their partners. Through events and initiatives such as the Cairn Cares 5K, Virtual 5K, and 1 Mile Fun Run, Cairn and ChoiceOne are able to work together to support the needs of these women and their families.
All participants received a race t-shirt and bib, and medals were awarded to the top three male and female finishers. The top three men finishers were Cross Country Coach Eric Bofinger (1st, 16:39), sophomore Matthew Benedict (2nd, 17:20, Cairn XC runner), and junior Caleb Basile (3rd, 17:54, Cairn XC runner). The top female finishers were Carrie Brox (1st, 21:45), junior Allyssa Hampson (2nd, 21:45, Cairn XC runner), and Megan Bradshaw (3rd, 23:26).
The first Cairn Cares 5K was a success! With a strong turnout, Cairn University and ChoiceOne were encouraged by the number of Cairn students and alumni, families, and community members who came out to support the event. With special games and prizes through the one-mile course, many families brought strollers so the whole family could participate.
