Homer Alaska - Sports

New to Homer's running-walking event schedule, the K-Bay 5K For Leo, benefiting the Children's Tumor Foundation, proved a bigger-than-expected success Friday evening.

Not only did organizers Saundra Hudson and Denise Ogle, Leo's mother, quickly run out of T-shirts during the event registration, they also ran out of numbered bibs. That was not a problem, however, as runners and walkers picked up pens and strips of paper and fashioned their own numbers in order to get a timed finish.

"It was so exciting and just amazing how many people showed up for it," said Ogle, whose son was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, or NF, when he was 3. The disease is causing tumors to grow on Leo's spine. The run benefited Children's Tumor Foundation, an organization researching a cure for NF.

At Friday's 5 p.m. start on the Homer High School track, 197 registered runners and walkers headed out East End Road bike trail to the finish line at Kachemak Community Center.

"I looked at a photo of the start line and counted more like 260, so maybe some didn't sign in," said Ogle.

However many reached the finish line, the event raised $4,600 in donations with more checks being dropped off with Ogle Monday morning.

"I was flagging at the end and people were pulling in and handing me cash that were not part of the run," said Hudson. "They were saying, 'Here's some money. Donate it for the cause.' And everywhere I went this weekend, people were asking how they could get a shirt. It's just incredible."

Leo was among the participants, walking the 3.1-mile course with "one of his best buddies that he's been in school with since kindergarten. It was fun for him and he really enjoyed it," said Ogle.

The first runner to cross the finish line was Lance Williamson, receiving an "Alaska" jacket designed by Kathy Sarns and donated by Free Spirit. Welcoming participants to the end at Kachemak Community Center was marimba band Zuva.

"It was a perfect finish. I'm really pleased with all of it," said Ogle. "And we want to thank the community, everyone that turned out for it. It was really good for our hearts."

An order is being placed for more T-shirts. Participants who registered too late to get one or individuals interested in getting a shirt should contact Ogle at 299-4650.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.