Heart-warming hike
SLIPPERY ROCK — Eighty-two-year-old Gerry Kaylor of Butler relaxed under the pavilion at Slippery Rock Community Park after she walked the first Legacy for Life on Saturday. Her time was 59 minutes and 48 seconds.
Kaylor was the oldest of the 146 participants for the community 5K run/walk event, which raised $2,000 for the Butler Visiting Nurses Association hospice.
"This is overwhelming. It's such an honor to have people come out like this," said Judy Connelly, hospice director. "This is really, really heart warming."
A number of people had a hand in organizing the event.
Park director Mary Messer and co-coordinator Jill Takach, a third grade teacher at Slippery Rock Elementary School, thanked residents who pulled together to help the hospice. Disc jockey John Greaves announced the race winners and played a number of dance hits for those in attendance. Gary Westbrook, a Giant Eagle employee, donated bananas and apples to help runners and walkers regain their strength after the race.
The Slippery Rock University Women's soccer team sponsored the event, which was led by head coach Noreen Herlihy, a hospice volunteer since 2006.
"The hospice shows fantastic compassion and care," Herlihy said. "I can't speak enough of it."
All 16 team members helped direct runners and walkers and handed out water bottles to thirsty participants along the race route.
The event was inspired by Slippery Rock Township resident Debbie Bell, whose husband died of pancreatic cancer in September. Her husband spent his final months at the hospice.
Bell's daughter Rachel Painter, who grew up in Slippery Rock, and granddaughter, Lexi, made the six-hour trip from Annapolis, Md., to take part in Saturday's race. Rachel Painter ran the more than 3.1 mile race and said there were a few difficult hills, but overall it wasn't too challenging.
Runner Jim Smith had slightly different sentiments, saying one particular stretch of the race had a number of "heartbreak hills."
"I felt like I was 55 a few minutes ago when I crossed the finish line. Now I feel good," Smith said, when asked how he felt after the race.
Prizes were given to the top male and female in the adult and under 12 year old children's categories.
The top placers were Pat Cormac in the men's category with a time of 21:35, and Allison Hindley in the women's category with a time of 24:36. Both received $100 Springfield restaurant gift certificates, although women's soccer player Hindley declined her prize.
The certificate was given to Jenn Shea, who finished second with a time of 25:36.
Winners for the boy's group were Mac Taylor and Kaleb Schubert for the boys, with times of 32:18 and 44:43, respectively.
Camryn Skibinski, one of two 10-year-old twins who ran, took home top honors for the girls with a time of 32:27. Camryn and her twin sister Josie Skibinski ran the race together.
The under-12 winners received $20 gift certificates for Playthings Etc. on Route 8, and chose from an autographed photograph of Hines Ward, and a hockey stick signed by Penguin's defenseman Sergei Gonchar, courtesy of the Steelers and Penguins organizations.
The VNA on Monday opened its new inpatient hospice facility, which has 12 bedrooms, a separate dining area for family events, a chapel, outdoor gardens and a veranda, according to Connelly.
Families of hospice guests are welcome 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
