BY GENE NARDI
Last Sunday was Father’s Day, and what better way for dads to go out and support the Purple Chicks organization than by participating in a local 5K fundraising event at Wellington’s Village Park?
Barbara Matthews of the Purple Chicks co-coordinated the fun fitness event to raise awareness and money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Matthews, Beth Hawkins and Sheryl Esquilin met at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. The three women bonded together to form the Purple Chicks and have hosted the Father’s Day “Daddy-Dash” 5K Family Fun Run at Village Park for two years running.
Last year, the event drew approximately 300 runners from around South Florida. Last weekend surpassed that by bringing in more than 450 runners.
“This is a huge jump from last year, and we’re very, very pleased,” Matthews said.
The event also drew in approximately $10,000, which will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
This year’s honored heroes were Felix Ruiz, who passed last year from the disease, and local young survivor Joshua Johnson, who also participated in the event.
The day also featured a free kid’s race and a diaper-dash run. Vendors joined in the festivities to provide information on health and fitness, and offered free products to runners and observers.
For more information on the Purple Chicks program, visit www.purplechicks.com.
ABOVE: More than 450 runners came out to participate. Here, they line up at the start of the race.
