Joggers shave heads, raise money for cause </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 7:34 PM on Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Joggers shave heads, raise money for cause

By Toni Jabas
Special to the Homer News

Last Saturday nearly 75 runners braved rain, lots of rain, and some wind, to raise money for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic’s early breast cancer detection program with the 12th annual Run for Women.

Toni Jabas
Runners leave the staring line at the base of Mariner Park for the annual Women's Run. Lars Matkin, number 40, won the race in a time of 31:52.

Maryclare Foecke, organizer of the run and health educator at KBFPC, said runners raised about $2,500 for the program. But, at the end of the day, more than $7,500 was raised, which is double the annual amount raised at the run.

This year’s extra funds came from a new event that followed the five-mile run. On posters for this year’s run, participants were invited to “Run, walk or get shaved for the cause.”

So, 25 heads of hair were offered to the cause.

Participants took pledges for having their heads shaved. Two of the highest, Scott Connelly and Dali Frazier, each raised close to $900. Reuben Cash and Andrew Polak also raised hundreds of dollars in pledges.

The idea for raising money by getting heads shaved was brought to Foecke by Kellie DeKok, who lost her father to cancer last year.

In the past few years Foecke said she wondered if interest in the Run for Women was beginning to fade. Now, she said she sees it coming back with more excitement and enthusiasm.

Already, people have approached her about getting pledges to have their heads shaved next year.

photo by Toni Jabas
Luis Cosio, gets shaved by Ryan DeKok at the 12th annual Run for Women. The event raised more than $7,500 for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic's early breast cancer detection program.

2006 Run for Women Top 10 runners

1) Lars Matkin, 31:52;
2) Michael Mumm, 32:31;
3) Stephanie Norberg, 33:28;
4) Richard Burton, 33:39;
5) Geoff Roes, 33:44;
6) Sascha Petersen, 34:13;
7) Brook Mickelson, 36:10;
8) Wilfred Roedel, 36:40;
9) A.J. Isenhower, 36:45;
10) Doug Koester, 37:41.

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