Tecumseh 5K race benefits diabetes education program

Saturday morning, May 18, was a beautiful day for a race, and 130 runners, plus 30 walkers, took advantage of the fine weather to participate in the Ninth Annual ProMedica Race for Diabetes 5K at Herrick Hospital.The race began at 9 a.m. sharp and the first runner, Bob Bridges of Onsted, competing in the men’s 50- to 54-year-old division, crossed the finish line 19 minutes and 26 seconds later to take first place overall. Next to cross the line was Lenawee Christian School eighth grader, Colette Lark, of Tecumseh, who clocked 20:02 for a first place in her division and first female finisher overall. While Colette was catching her breath, her proud father commented that she was on her school’s cross-country and track teams. “She’s never lost a race this year,” he said.Other winners of their divisions included: Males: 14-and-under - Chenevey, 27:16; 15 – 19 years — Joshua Vanderhorst 21:08; 20 - 24 years — Richard Moore 24:02; 25 - 29 years — Ben Anaya 23:42; 30 – 34 years — Gary Keyte 25:26; 35 - 39 years — Nathan Tucker 23:39; 40 – 44 years — Sam Werner 22:15; 45 – 49 years — David Boehmer 24:00; 55 – 59 years — Lawrence Dasch 23:51; and 60 – 69 years — Gary Walter 30:48.Females: 15 – 19 years — Brooke Schaaf 37:48; 20 – 24 years — Maria Kaiser 22:23; 25 – 29 years — Hayley Erickson 24:44; 30 – 34 years — Christina Walter 22:47; 35 – 39 years — Wendy Knape 27:36; 40 – 44 years — Angela Wotring 28:12; 45 – 49 years — Julie Keller 28:17; 50 – 54 years — Tammy Birbeck 35:41; 55 -59 years — Patrice Redman 37:47; 60 – 69 years — Laura Betzoldt 27:02; and 70-and-older — Maria Torres 49:29.The annual race is held to benefit ProMedica Herrick Hospital and ProMedica Bixby Hospital’s campaign to educate the community about diabetes. The two hospitals hold regular seminars on proper diet and care for those who have the disease and for the family members who help the patients in their efforts to battle the effects of diabetes.Free, informational diabetes meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Lenawee County Health Department in the county human services building, 1040 S. Winter St., in Adrian from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and in the Herrick Hospital basement conference room, 500 E. Pottawatamie St., Tecumseh from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For the next topics of discussion at either of the two sites, interested parties may call the hospitals’ diabetes education center at 424.3388.