The date is set for the 5th Annual Run for Ella. Mark your calendar for a day of fun on September 14, 2013.
Last year provided many great memories. I hope this year is even better.
Take a look at this great article written by Norman Davis, a participant in this year’s Run for Ella, that was published in Trail Runner Magazine. This is what the Run for Ella is really about.
Thanks Norman!
On April 18, 2009, I was sitting by a camp fire with some friends at the Cotton Mill Preserve and remember seeing a helicopter fly over. Little did I know it was on its way to pick up a little girl named Ella. She had been pinned between two vehicles and was fighting for her life. Ella was flown to Vanderbilt Hospital. Her parents were told that everything that could be done had been done. The injuries were so severe there was little hope she would make it through the night.
On September 8, 2012, that little girl named Ella crossed the finish line with several friends and her dad after finishing the 5k named in her honor. What an amazing day.
Thank you for coming to the 4th annual Run for Ella and we hope you will consider being part of next year’s event.
More pictures also posted on Paul Henry’s facebook account.
Early packet pickup will be at the Elk River Coffee Company from 4-6 on Friday. The address is 117 North Main.
Registration and packet pickup will open at 7:00am Saturday morning.
If you still need to register come by the coffee shop Friday or you can register the morning of the race.
Start/Finish
Cotton Mill Preserve
204 Shelbyville Hwy
Fayetteville, TN 37334
10k & 5k Run – 8am
The first 2 1/2 miles will be the same for the 10k & 5k. The 10k will split off and head for more fun and excitement. Expect hills, rocks, roots, and possibly mud if it rains. This is a fun, scenic course but challenging. If you encounter a wild animal on the trail please be respectful and leave it there!
1 mile Run/Walk – 9am
Open field with areas of uneven footing.
Aid Stations
2 aid stations provided for the 5k and a total of 4 for the 10k. Aid stations will only be providing water.Water, sports drinks, fruit, and popsicles will be provided at the start/finish line.
T-Shirts
All preregistered runners will a receive t-shirt provided by NDesigns.
Awards – 9:30am
Overall winners in 10k & 5k will receive a custom trophy & prizes from Fleet Feet & Swiftwick.
Age Group winners will receive medals & prizes from Fleet Feet & Swiftwick.
As in the past, we will also award the youngest and the most mature (oldest) 5k finisher with a trophy. (Based on date of birth included on entry form.)
Early Packet Pickup
Early packet pickup will be at Elk River Coffee Company from 4-6. Stop by and get your race packages and stay for a cup of coffee or dinner.
It’s only a few weeks until the 4th Annual Run for Ella. We are busy making plans to make this year’s event memorable for every participant.
This year’s event will feature a 10k class with more hills, rocks, roots, and excitement. If you have run the 5k before, this will be just more trail to experience. If this will be your first year don’t expect to set a personal best but expect a challenge that will leave you wanting to come back again. We will still offer the 5k and 1 mile fun run but the 10k will let you explore more trail at The Cotton Mill Preserve.
This year’s overall winners for the 10k and 5k will receive a prize from Fleet Feet Huntsville, Swiftwick socks, and trophy. Age group winners for the 10k and 5k will receive medals. We will also be awarding a trophy to the maturest (oldest) and youngest participant to complete the 5k.
As in the past, the funds will help children in Lincoln County that have been injured in an accident. One of the recipients of this year’s event will be Colton Parkin. Colton is a student at Ninth Grade Academy that was injured in a tubing accident in July. Colton was life flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital where he underwent two surgeries to repair muscles, ulner and radial nerves, and brachial artery in his arm. This surgery required removal of nerves and artery from his legs to be graphed in his arm. Colton still has a long road ahead of him in therapy and we hope to be able to help him and his family.
We hope to see everyone out on September 8th.
The following appeared in the Elk Valley Times, August 7, 2012.
Editor’s Note: The Fourth Annual Run for Ella has been scheduled for Sept. 8 at The Cotton Mill Preserve on the Shelbyville Highway. Sara Brown, mother of Ella Brown, for whom the annual event is named, shares her family’s story and the importance of supporting this worthy cause.
By Sara Brown, Special to The Times
Have you ever stopped to wonder what you would do if your child was injured in an accident? How would you pay for weeks and/or months of hospital stays, therapies, doctor’s visits? Would you use that Christmas Club money? How about that money you’ve stashed away for a summer vacation? Or maybe you are one of the lucky ones with an “emergency fund”. I can tell you from experience, whatever you think would be enough to pay for a long-term illness will most likely fall short.
If you are like me, you don’t have a savings account set aside for “the day tragedy strikes your home”. Luckily, when Ella was hurt almost three years ago now, we were fortunate to have an amazing community who rallied around us and helped us weather the storm.
Often when we think of long-term illness or accidents, we think only of the astronomical medical bills that are associated. However, the day-to-day expenses are almost as staggering. Eating out three meals a day, gas money to go back and forth home, hotels, all while still maintaining a household for family back home is very difficult. In fact, it is almost like you have two homes, two lives. Your mortgage must still be paid. You still have to buy groceries for the family back home. It is simply amazing how quickly that “emergency fund” will dwindle to nothing.
When Ella was hurt, we were fortunate to have numerous groups and individuals come to our aid and raise funds to help us bridge the gap between hospital and home. Without your help, we would have quite possibly lost everything we had. As a result of those efforts, one of the fundraising events, the “Run for Ella,” has become an annual event hosted by a group of individuals whose goal it is to be able to assist other families facing tragedies.
In the last three years, all of the funds collected have gone to assist families in their times of need. The “Run for Ella” has raised over $32,000 and has been able to help six families in our community. It has been amazing to see the outpouring of love our community shows for families in need.
It is time, once again, for the 4th annual “Run for Ella.” I am pleased to say that the little girl who started this all is about to start the 5th grade at Unity Elementary. She also played orphan “July” in Carriage House Players’ recent production of “Annie”. I am amazed when I think of how far she has come and what a special role our community had in her recovery.
I am also proud to have Ella’s name tied to such a worthy cause. I never anticipated that our family would need the help of the community simply because I never thought anything like this would happen to us. But, it does happen, and it does not discriminate. Any family can be struck by tragedy at anytime. No one is immune to it.
It has been unfortunate to see several other children in our community experience incidents similar to Ella’s. However, it is good to know that the “Run for Ella” funds are there to assist those families in their time of need.
Please consider participating or sponsoring this worthwhile event this year. The run is scheduled for Sept. 8 and will include a 10k, 5k and 1-mile fun run/walk. The 10k and 5k races will begin at 8 a.m. with the Fun Run at 9 a.m. Please help us continue to help children and families cope with life-changing events.
For more information on registration and sponsorship, please visit the website www.runforella.com or contact Steve Swindall at sbswindall@gmail.com or 931.205.3118
Start/Finish
Cotton Mill Preserve
204 Shelbyville Hwy
Fayetteville, TN 37334
10k & 5k Run – 8am
The first 1 1/2 miles will be the same for the 10k & 5k. Expect hills, rocks, roots, and possibly mud if it rains. This is a fun, scenic course but challenging. If you encounter a wild animal on the trail please be respectful and leave it there!
1 mile Run/Walk – 9am
1 mile will held on trails that will include rocks and roots. No big hills but not flat either.
Aid Stations
2 aid stations provided for the 5k and 3 for the 10k. Aid stations will only be providing water.
Water, sports drinks, fruit, and popsicles will be provided at the start/finish line.
T-Shirts
All preregistered runners will a receive t-shirt provided by NDesigns.
Awards – 9:30am
Overall winners in 10k & 5k will receive a custom trophy & prizes from Fleet Feet & Swiftwick.
Age Group winners will receive ribbons & prizes from Fleet Feet & Swiftwick.
As in the past, we will also award the youngest and the most mature (oldest) 5k finisher with a trophy. (Based on date of birth included on entry form.)
I hope everyone is taking advantage of the warm weather we are having and enjoying the outdoors!
We are busy planning the 4th Annual Run for Ella. This year’s event will be held September 8, 2012. The same challenging course will be used but if 5k of rocks, roots, and hills wasn’t enough you can keep going! We are adding a 10k to this year’s event. You will have your option of 10k, 5k, or 1 mile fun run.
Our community has been amazing! With the support of runners and sponsors we have raised $32,000 in the past 3 years and 100% of this has been given to families in LincolnCounty. This has not been possible without YOU. I hope you will put this date on your calendar and come out for what I hope to be our biggest year yet.
Stay tuned for upcoming announcements as the race date approaches.
If you would like to volunteer or sponsor the race please contact me at sbswindall@gmail.com or 931.205.3118.
