Lake Run Club Community Blog

  May 18 was a beautiful day for ABC#186/Multi-Sport. $1,370 was donated to Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, thanks to 41 participants/donors. The swim had been canceled but it was an awesome day for running and bicycling. Thanks so much to everyone who donated, attended, organized, volunteered, brought food, cooked, and enhanced the day with your enthusiasm. At 8:00, Lydia Gartner thanked us and told us how our donations help Timber Pointe provide specialized outdoor programs for individuals with disabilities and illnesses. It was especially heartwarming to hear Lydia read a thank you note sent by one of the parents. We than took a group photo and ran either the 4-mile or 8-mile road course. At 9:15, bicyclists took off for a guided tour of either a 13 or 29-mile ride. At 11:30, the cookout started. Great feast: pork chops, grilled chicken breasts, brats, snacks, coffee cake, cookies, fruit, and beverages. Thanks to the chefs, Robbie Pratt and Mike Johnson . Also thanks to those ...

 Another fantastic ABC! A total of $4,558 was donated to The Baby Fold by 48 participants, including 41 attendees plus another seven that either mailed a check or used the online option. This is the second highest total of all twenty years of ABC events for The Baby Fold! Thanks so much for your generosity and enthusiasm! Thanks to Sam Guillory and at least five other Baby Fold staff for being great hosts and for providing food & beverages. Thanks to Lisa Sparks for making the coffee cake, Kevin Fahling for the cookies, Stacy Sheridan for the egg casserole, Betty Brandt for the brownies, and all the others who brought food. Thanks also to Mike Laffey and Claire Wagner for serving as photographers.  A funny thing happened as I was about to pick up the refreshment box stationed on the course. A young man got to the box before me, grabbed a Gatorade, and continued running. Betty and I debated whether I should include a “mister X” as an ABC run participant. He is no...

 A nice total of $1,675 was donated to Sugar Grove Foundation by 26 participants, including seven donations from those that could not attend. That brings the total of all 19 ABC runs for Sugar Grove to $21,673. Thanks everyone!   When I arrived, Tricia Braid , a volunteer at Sugar Grove, made it possible for us to use the facilities and was there to help host. She thanked us for our donations and let us know about recent additions/remodeling and about future plans.     Before the run, we took the group photo on the impressive tree platform, one of the additions to Imagination Grove in the last year. We enjoyed a variety of great eats after the run. Bill Hahm brought quiche, Betty Brandt brought coffee, apples, banana bread, and chocolate cookies. Others brought food as well but I don’t know who. It just magically appears every ABC run.  Thanks so much to everyone who attended, contributed, brought food, and made it fun!

  The weather was frightful but the run/hike at Parklands was delightful. Thanks to 15 participants (nine attended, six others donated), a cool $865 was donated to Scott Early Learning Center. This was the first run of the 20 th year of runs, so we chose to meet at Parklands Merwin Preserve, the site of the first ABC run held in January 2005. Five runners showed up for that initial ABC run and it was heartwarming to have four of us attend ABC#183 (the other three are Mike Heffron , Kevin Fahling , and Mary Ellen Schupbach ). It was a “Retro-Run”, so two of us wore the same jacket and one wore the same cap as in 2005. See photos below. After the run, we enjoyed snacks such as banana nut chocolate chip muffins ( Stacy Sheridan ), chocolate chip cookies ( Kevin Fahling ), and peanut butter cookies ( Larry Schumacher ). But one thing was missing – hot chocolate! I forgot to make some, but Tod Williamson saved the day! The total for all 183 ABC runs is $221,867, vastly more than w...

  Fantastic!! $2,500 was donated to Adopt-A-Family by the 51 participants, including seven supporters that were unable to attend. This will provide a great Christmas for our assigned family plus enough for up to two more families. This also happens to be the 2 nd highest total of all fourteen Adopt-A-Family ABC runs. Thanks so much to everyone for your heartwarming support and thanks to Lisa & Jay Sparks for doing a great job hosting at their home.   At 8:30, Lisa thanked everyone and told us about the program and that the new name of the program is Brighten-A-Family and that Children’s Home & Aid is now Brightpoint.   After a group picture (thanks to Mike Laffey for taking photos), we headed out for a run/walk on the trail. We were blessed with perfect weather. We were treated to a superb breakfast of blueberry pancakes prepared by Jay Sparks , coffee cake from Laurel Schumacher , cookies from Kevin Fahling , fruit from Rebecca Africano , and much ...

  ABC#181 on September 9 was another success with $1080 donated to Seedling Theatre thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, including: (a) Laurel & Larry Schumacher for being awesome hosts at their home and for providing several door prizes. (b) 30 participants plus four other donors. (c) Betty Brandt , for getting the Thrivent sponsorship covering the t-shirts and much of the food and drink. Betty also provided the cool Lake Superior “ABC 2023” painted stones. (d) Donna Anhalt for donating tickets to an upcoming performance for our drawing. (e) Everyone who brought food ! I don’t recall all of the food, but Lisa Sparks made the coffee cake, Stacy Sheridan made the casserole & banana cake, Laukrel Schumacher prepared the biscuits & gravy. Other food contributors included Dawn Dieckgrafe , Felicia Harrison , Jane Camp , Paulette Coco , Jeanne Gleason , and Liz Johnson . Seedling Theatre is a wonderful theatrical program for children & young adults ...

 Much thanks to Mike & Dawn Laffey for being super hosts for ABC #180 at their home on June 11. Rain nixed the pool party but a great sum of $2,975 was donated to St. Jude by the 14 attendees plus another 12 that donated online or sent a check. Thanks so much to everyone for your participation, donations, and providing food. A partial list of food providers include Lisa Sparks (coffee cake), Dawn Laffey (casserole, beverages), Laura Hamilton (casserole), Stacy Sheridan (banana bread), Sandra Sharp (fruit), and Betty Brandt (fudge). We’ve held a total of 21 ABC runs for St. Jude and the total of those runs is $40,568. The total for all 180 ABC runs is $217,191 . Merci…gracias…takk…thank you for all of your support over the years!

 ABC#179/Multi-Sport on May 20 was a great day. Thanks to 33 participants, $740 was donated to Timber Pointe Outdoor Center. We had to cancel the swim but it was a nice cool morning to run and to bicycle. Thanks so much to everyone who donated, attended, organized, volunteered, brought food, cooked, and enhanced the day with your enthusiasm. At 8:00, Lydia Gartner thanked us and told us about Timber Pointe’s programs. We than took a group photo and started the run. Some ran the road course (4 or 8 miles) and some ran trails. At 9:15, bicyclists took off for either 13 or 26 miles.   At 11:30, the cookout started. What a feast: grilled chicken breasts, brats, snacks, apple pie, coffee cake, cookies, banana bread, and beverages. Thanks to the chefs, Mike Johnson and Robbie Pratt . Also thanks to those who brought food. A partial list includes Central Illinois Masters Swim Team (brats, chicken breasts, snack), Lisa Sparks (coffee cake), Kevin Fahling (cookies), Rebecca...

  Fantastic ABC run! A total of $4,110 was donated to The Baby Fold by 63 participants, including 53 attendees plus another ten that either mailed a check or used the online option. Thanks so much for your generosity and enthusiasm!   Thanks to Aimee Beam for being a great host, providing food & beverages, and having the Easter Egg Hunt. Thanks to Laurel Schumacher for making the coffee cake, Kevin Fahling for the cookies, and all the others who brought food. Thanks to Mike Laffey for taking the photos. Aimee Beam wanted me to let you know how much she appreciates this level of support. The donations this year will be going to the Family and Community Stabilization fund . This will help families with food, utilities, and other basic needs to keep children safe amid rising prices.  Thanks to State Farm for their matching program. We do not count State Farm matches in the ABC event total, but it could be a nice boost considering the number of employees in our group....

  It was a 20/20 day (20 degrees, 20 mph wind) but still good for a run/walk. Thanks to 34 participants (27 attended, 7 mailed checks), a fine total of $865 was donated to Scott Early Learning Center. Stacy & Pat Sheridan were great hosts! There was ample space to spread out to eat &socialize. At 8:05 we convened to thank the participants, say a few words about SELC, and present the “ABC Top Dog” traveling trophy to Bill Hahm for his great support of ABC runs over the years (Bill has participated in 91 ABC runs). Following a group photo, Pat Sheridan led the runners on a 5-mile adventure. Back at the Sheridan home, the feast was awesome! Thanks so much all who brought food and drink. To the best of my memory, the menu included: - coffee cake and a breakfast casserole from Stacy Sheridan , - breakfast casseroles (meat and meatless) from Laura Hamilton , - cinnamon rolls from Tammy Knippenberg & Rae Ann Ploense , - yogurt & granola from Ted O’Neil , - banana...

 A fine total of $1,560 was donated to Sugar Grove Nature Center by 32 participants, including six donations from those that could not attend. That brings the total of all 18 ABC runs for SGNC to $19,998. Thanks everyone!  When I arrived, Jill Wallace of SGNC was already there with the coffee, chocolate mile, orange juice, fruit, and treats. A big thanks to Jill for doing a superb job of hosting.  After posing for the group photo, many participants took to the trails. Erin Furimsky suggested doing the yoga tree pose near the oak tree. One rebel, Pat Sheridan , opted for tree hugging. We enjoyed a variety of great eats after the run. Stacy Sheridan made Meg’s Coffee Cake, Kathy Alexander brought Kind Bars (dark chocolate cherry cashew), Jill Wallace provided beverages, fruit, and treats. Others brought food as well but I didn’t notice where all the food came from. It just magically appears every ABC run. Thanks so much to everyone who attended, contributed, br...

  Wow! A total of $2,450 was donated to Adopt-A-Family by the 29 participants on November 5, plus six other supporters that were unable to attend. This will provide a great Christmas for our assigned family and might be enough for two more families. Those that submit their donations to their corporate matching gift program will help even more.   Thanks, everyone, for your support and thanks to Lisa & Jay Sparks for doing a great job hosting at their home.   At 9:00, Lisa thanked everyone and briefly told us about the program. After a group picture, we headed out for a run or walk on the constitution trail. There was a weather advisory, but we lucked out and the rain and stronger winds held off.   Thanks to Mike and Dawn Laffey for bringing Peter and Pam Helander to their first ABC run. Peter and Dawn are great friends from Wisconsin that happened to be in town for the weekend. We were treated to a superb breakfast of blueberry pancakes prepared by Jay...

  October 2 th was a beautiful day at Sugar Grove Nature Center and $992 was donated to Heartland Head Start thanks to the generosity of twenty participants plus three others that sent a donation. Erica Tisdale from Heartland Head Start kicked things off by thanking us and telling us a bit about Heartland Head Start. Over the years, we have completed fifteen runs to benefit HHS, raising a grand total of $11,169.   Money raised has helped the agency pay for playground equipment, classroom supplies and various classroom projects. After taking a group photo, we took off to explore the area. Some running, some walking, some on the trails, some on the road. Beautiful weather. What a perfect day!   Thanks to all who participated, donated, brought food, and helped out. Thanks to Stacy Sheridan for making Meg’s coffee cake, Sharon Cochran for goodies from Ivy Lane Bakery, Drew Gutu & Erica Tisdale for fruit and snacks, Todd Schneider for bringing water, and Bill Hah...

  ABC#173 on September 3 was a great success with $1520 donated to Seedling Theatre thanks to the generosity of everyone involved. It truly made our celebration of the ABC Run program exceeding $200K in donations a memorable experience. Thanks much to: (a) Laurel & Larry Schumacher for being awesome hosts at their home. (b) 56 participants plus five other donors. (c) Betty Brandt , for getting the Trivent sponsorship covering the t-shirts and much of the food. Betty also provided the cool Lake Superior “ABC 2022” painted stones. (d) Seedling Theatre for donating tickets to an upcoming performance for our drawing. (e) Everyone who brought food ! I don’t recall who all brought food, but Stacy Sheridan kept the “Meg’s coffee cake” tradition alive and Laurel Schumacher prepared the biscuits & gravy. (f) Mike Laffey for taking all the great photos. Seedling Theatre is a wonderful theatrical program for children & young adults & adults with disabilities, as well a...

  ABC Run #172 was at Underwood Park, the start of Meg’s Miles, on June 12. An excellent total of  $3,390 was donated to St. Jude by the 25 attendees plus several runners that donated online or sent a check. Pretty good turnout for a day in which storms were forecast. Luckily the rain held off until we finished. Thanks so much to all participants and donators, Rebecca Africano for making “Meg's coffee cake”, Mike Laffey for taking photos and bringing coffee cake, Tammy Knippenberg for making cinnamon rolls, and Sandra Sharp for bringing the bananas. We’ve held a total of 20 ABC runs for St. Jude and the total of those runs is $37,593. The total for all 172 ABC runs is $201,354 . Wow! We just passed $200,000 this event! What a milestone! Thank you…thank you…thank you for all of your support over the years! 

 ABC#171/Multi-Sport Day was a success with $1800 donated to Timber Pointe Outdoor Center! The weather forecast was scary but we had 31 on-site participants. The on-line sign up was a good addition as half of the donations were made on-line. A majority of those donating on-line were able to attend. Thanks so much to everyone who donated, attended, organized, volunteered, brought food, cooked, and enhanced the day with your enthusiasm. The storms held off and we were lucky to do it all: run, swim, bike, and eat! At 55 degrees, it was a bit cool for the swim and the bike though.   At 8:00, we gathered to hear Lydia Gartner thank us and briefly tell us about Timber Pointe’s programs.   We then quickly took the group photo and ran, hoping to beat the rain. Most runners ran the road course but a few ran the well-marked trails (thanks to Rich Beal). At 9:00, swimmers headed down to the dock for the open-water swim. The water temperature was 71 degrees so it was definitely...

Fantastic ABC run! A total of $3,574 was donated to The Baby Fold by 54 participants, including 49 attendees plus another five that either mailed a check or used the online option. Among the participants were the LRC Wave Training Group and several runners attending their first ABC run. Thanks so much to everyone for your generosity and enthusiasm! Thanks to The Baby Fold team (Aimee Beam, Jessica Shaw, Claire Wagner) for providing a warm welcome and lots of food & beverages. In addition, several participants brought great food to share. I don’t know who all the providers were but I did note (and ate) cookies brought by Dawn Dieckgrafe and Kevin Fahling. Stacy Sheridan made two coffee cakes! Thanks a million!  Thanks also to State Farm for their matching program. Please remember to submit your donations to the program. It could make a big difference to The Baby Fold, perhaps adding another 30%, considering the number of employees/retirees in our group. . Please remember to ...

Meatloaf sang “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” about looking for a good time. When looking for a good time to run, one out of three ain’t bad. February 19 was (1) windy and (2) cold but (3) sunny, so it turned out pretty well with $695 donated to Scott Early Learning Center. Thanks so much to the 16 attendees and two other donors for your generous support of children in our community. Scott ELC will benefit even more when State Farm employees/retirees apply under their matching grant program. We met at Underwood Park in Normal for convenient trail access and to avoid having a group gathering indoors at this time of covid precautions. We did manage to get a group photo with those in attendance at 8:30. Then, most went for a run while Pat Sheridan cross-country skied. The food was delicious, making it worth freezing our fingers while tailgating in the parking lot. . Thanks so much to Stacy Sheridan for making Meg’s coffee cake (and warm in the insulated container), Tammy Knippenberg for ...

  ABC Run #168, for Sugar Grove Nature Center, 1-15-2022 Wow! $2,807 was donated to Sugar Grove Nature Center by 36 participants, including donations from 10 that could not attend. That’s the highest total of all 17 ABC events that have been held for SGNC. Thanks everyone!  When I arrived, Jill Wallace of SGNC was already there with the coffee, hot water, hot chocolate, fruit, and treats. A big thanks to Jill for doing a superb job of hosting.  After posing for the group photo, most of the participants took to the trails which were in great shape. Rich Beal and Tammy Knippenberg were the only runners opting to endure the 20 mph winds out on the 7-mile road course. We enjoyed a variety of great eats after the run. Laurel Schumacher brought Meg’s Coffee Cake, Stacy Sheridan brought “No Bake Energy Bites”, Kevin Fahling brought cookies, Rebecca Africano provided cookies, Tammy Knippenberg brought cinnamon rolls, Rich Beal brought turnovers, and Jill Wallace prov...

ABC Run #167, for Adopt-A-Family