About 375 runners took to the streets around Jefferson Regional for the fourth annual Pink Out 5K on Saturday, setting a new registration record.
“That all goes on our Wellness Center workers, just getting the word out and advertising,” said Laura Beth Shaner, director of the Jefferson Regional Foundation, the race’s sponsor.
If that wasn’t exciting enough for race organizers, the overall finish came down to fun sprint between Eli Hefner, 12, and Trevin Brown, 34. Eli held off Brown for the win.
“He gave me a run for my money,” Brown said. “I almost caught him, but he said, ‘No, sir, not today.’ He gave everything he had, and that was very impressive.”
Brown added running around the hospital felt just like home, as he runs in the area daily.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Courtney Stanton of Jefferson Regional’s White Hall Wellness Center said as organizers are settling into their roles, they plan for the event to grow “more and more” each year. Runners as young as 3 have been drawn to the event, many of them registering as business-sponsored teams, and don’t mind running through pink and white powder in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
“There are a lot of young kids running today,” Stanton said. “They have all said this is a very exciting event and they love to come to it.”
Shaner added: “I know the powder helps a lot, and the free stuff along the way.”
The event benefits the hospital’s Breast Center, and mammographers dressed up in pirate spirit encouraging everyone to “Treasure the Chest,” per this year’s race theme. Mammography department director Wayne Harris appropriately took on the character of pirate captain, hat, skull flag and all.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Harris said. “Our hope is to promote breast cancer awareness. Of course, it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and (at) the Breast Center we try to make it very convenient for anyone to get a screening mammogram. Detection is very key to survival, and so we try to remove all barriers. If you can’t afford it, if you are underinsured or uninsured, we have a grant program through Arkansas Cancer Coalition that will actually pay for a mammogram we have.”
A walk-in clinic for a mammogram, Harris added, is available at Jefferson Regional’s White Hall Health Complex at 1600 W. Holland Ave., near White Hall High School. (Call 870-541-7393 for details.)
Runners and walkers alike also found support from law enforcement officers urging them down West 42nd Avenue before they headed down the final stretch on South Mulberry Street.
The Jefferson Regional Foundation also announced another fundraiser for the Breast Center. The Dink for Pink pickleball tournament is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at the White Hall Community Center, with warm-up beginning at 11:30 a.m.
On Oct. 18, the 11th annual Breast Cancer 2K Walk/Run honoring Billie Jean “BJ” Jackson, organized by Michelle Jackson Atkinson, will take off at 9 a.m. from Saracen Landing. A related kick-off event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church, 3319 S. Ohio St.
