Article from the Dayton Daily News
Posted: 12:00 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014
BY BETH ANSPACH – CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Devoted to their community, Harrigan’s 5K Run volunteers Dean and Sue Hertert of Kettering began their lives in charitable work before they even moved to the Dayton area, while living in Pennsylvania.
“Dean’s best friend in Boston has lymphoma,” Sue said. “I heard about Team in Training about 16 years ago.”
Team in Training is a national organization that supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I went to a meeting in 2002 and did my first event.”
From that point, the couple became actively involved in supporting charities in the area and soon found out about another Team in Training event at the time, a 5K run that started at Harrigan’s Pub in Kettering.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, it turns out, was also one of the beneficiaries of the Young’s Dairy Bike Tour, an annual event that takes place each summer, as well as the sole benefiting charity for the Harrigan’s run.
“I got involved with the Young’s Ride as part of the organizing committee,” Dean said. “They needed better connectivity with Team In Training and LSS.”
The couple considered this involvement as a great way for them to raise money and support LSS so they volunteered at rest stops along the Young’s bike route and did various other fundraising activities year round.
“About the time Sue and I took over responsibility for the Harrigan’s Run, we moved the proceeds from Harrigan’s to go to the same four local charities that now benefit from the Young’s Ride.”
Those charities include Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), United Rehabilitation Services (URS), South Community, Inc. and the Alzheimer’s Association.
“These organizations were chosen to benefit because they all have local chapters that help people in our community,” Dean said.
The Herterts volunteer for both the Harrigan’s Run, which takes place this year on March 22, and the Young’s Bike Tour, a two-day event scheduled for July 19- 20. They work alongside about 70 volunteers with about half of those representing the benefiting charities.
“We are the organizers of the Harrigan’s Run now,” Sue said. “This involves getting the permits, insurance, T-shirts and getting the food donated.”
Since the Herterts became involved with the Harrigan’s event, it has grown from 300 runners in 2008 to more than 1,000 registered last year. “I think runs are becoming more and more popular because we have such a great running community here,” Sue said. “This has really helped us grow the event. And people like Harrigan’sand enjoy this race.”
The couple’s hard work and dedication over the past four years has resulted in more than $55,000 being raised to benefit the four charities. And their group of good friends also volunteers together. These include Susie Stein, owner of Up and Running in Washington Twp., an important sponsor of the event. “They have a deep mailing list,” Dean said. “And they are supportive of a lot of the races for charities in town.”
The Herterts see additional growth possible, especially in the sponsorship area. “This is the first year we’ve had a cash sponsor,” Sue said. “We need to start actively pursuing sponsorships, especially to offset our costs. Every single cent we don’t have to pay out for our costs, the more the charities will get.”
Last year’s run raised $14,000 and that money “flows” into the Young’s ride and is merged with proceeds from that event. The total amount raised from the two events last year was $102,000 and the charities receive their proceeds once the ride is over in July.
Both Herterts call Harrigan’s race day “nonstop work” that includes marking the route, helping with registration and just ensuring logistics are in order for the day. As avid cyclists, both are now happy to be able to participate in the Young’s Ride, since Dean has dropped off the committee.
“We usually ride both the days at the Young’s event,” Sue said. “It’s one 82-mile day and one 100-mile day.”
Sue, who works full-time as an RN at Kettering Medical Center ,and Dean, who works at K & G Bike Shop (next to Harrigan’s) say they stay busy “volunteering nonstop for one organization or another,” according to Dean. “Our group of friends is a volunteer group and Sue has become a professional at doing registration and I’m good with volunteers.”
Dean brought several of the benefiting charities on board for the Young’s Ride, including JDRF. “My son, Matthew, was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age 5,” Dean said. “And it seems almost everybody knows someone who is engaged with the charities we support.”
In fact, both Herterts even travel out of state to participate in JDRF “destination events,” and plan to ride in Tucson, Ariz., this year.
“These are really good causes and great people and it’s so positive to be involved with them,” Sue said. “We love the Harrigan’s Run because it’s just great to see all these people sign up, even when it’s pouring rain or freezing cold. We deeply appreciate the support of the charities, volunteers and sponsors.”
More about the Harrigan’s 5K Run
The Harrigan’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K Charity Run is scheduled for March 22, 2014. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. and leaves from Harrigan’s Tavern, 4070 Marshall Road in Kettering. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
Professional race timing is provided by Speedy Feet with medals given to top three finishers in each category.
Snacks and water are provided.
Cost: $20 for registrations received by Monday before race; $25 thereafter including day of the race.
Technical shirts go to the first 150 that register and cotton shirts to all participants that register two weeks before event.
More information at www.harrigans5k.com
More about the Young’s Bike Tour
The 12th Annual Young’s Bike Tour is scheduled for July 19-20, 2014 and the main ride starts at 8 am Saturday at Young’s Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield Xenia Road in Yellow Springs.
There are five different routes and both one- and two-day options. The full two-day ride takes cyclists north to Ada and Ohio Northern University. Two-day riders will be served lunch en route to Ada, dinner at Ohio Northern, breakast Sunday morning and lunch on the route back.
One-day registration is $25 per rider plus a $135 charitable donation. Two-day registration is $55 per rider plus a $225 charitable donation.
Any rider raising $500 or more will receive a special jersey for the ride.
More information at youngsbiketour.com
