By Ardis Stenbakken – Loveland, Colorado … On a chilly, sunny Thanksgiving morning, some 50 hearty individuals gathered in the Campion church parking lot ready for what is hoped will become the first Turkey Trot of many.
Young and old, they lined up, ready to walk or run, two in a baby stroller or one, a tricycle, in hopes of navigating the 5k course successfully. The path traced the edges of the Campion Academy campus and returned to the church parking lot where hot chocolate awaited participants along with a large screen displaying their course time.
About 45 participants completed the course, and should be congratulated for the achievement whether they finished or started and went as far as they could. There was no prize, but Campion T-shirts were offered to many participants.
Campion church member, Caleb Jahn, came in first with 25.13 minutes, with Zach Harlow, a student at HMS Richards School, right behind him. Jenny Sigler was the first woman to finish.
Although there was no fee to participate, runners/walkers were asked to make a donation, and $336 was collected for a family which will be chosen to receive a Christmas blessing.
Pastor Michael Goetz, one of the organizers along with Kent Kast and Don Reeder, said, “The campus was honored to be used with a great activity that was appropriate for the concerns of the season. We must continue our community/fellowship and our mission to share Jesus. The pandemic should not stop these; we just have to be creative and this was one of those opportunities.”
–Ardis Stenbakken is the communication director for Campion church; photos by Kaitlyn Boutot and Ardis Stenbakken
