Chicken Run lifts Life’s Choices

FUNdraiser supports Life’s Choices of Kutztown and Hamburg

A larger-than -life, fuzzy yellow chicken greeted visitors to Bowers Park on Saturday, May 6.

The site was home to the Spring Chicken FUNdraiser, an annual event which supports Life’s Choices of Kutztown and Hamburg. The two centers provide pregnancy, relationship and family support at no cost to the community. An annual event, this year’s Spring Chicken was held in a new location, William DeLong Park in Bowers. The 5K course featured country roads and mostly flat stretches. In all, 48 individuals ran the 5K. Jordan Boyer was the fastest male runner and Samantha Snyder was the fastest female. Both received a “Golden Egg” statue.

The Spring Chicken 5K was marked and timed by Alpha and Omega Sports. All finishing times are available on their website: www.AlphaandOmegaSports.com.

A highlight for many in attendance was the kids’ fun run, with 20 youngsters participating. Top competitors received a medal and all the children were given a Chick-fil-A gift card. First place finishers were Caleb Marks and Gabby Williams; Lukas Hoffman and Ellie Long were second; third place Fun Run contestants were Rylie Swarzentruber and Victoria Naugle.

The morning also included a two-mile walk, with 50 individuals hitting the trail that circled the park and completing four loops. Other activities included bounce houses, boxed lunches and a photo booth. Prizes were also awarded.

“We’re so grateful for all those who helped make this event a success,” said Life’s Choices Executive Director Joy Stutzman.

“Many individuals volunteered their time, including the kitchen team from Trinity Bible Fellowship Church,” she said, plus “a group of men from Teen Challenge Training Center, fire police from the Lyons Fire Company, and a group of employees from Kohl’s Department Store in Trexlertown. “

Thanks to volunteer efforts, business donations and pledges raised by walkers and runners, $14,500 was contributed to Life’s Choices. More funds are expected to trickle in over the next week or so, said Laurie Williams, director of development.

“The funds raised from our Spring Chicken event enable Life’s Choices to effectively reach clients throughout Berks County, offering pregnancy and parenting support, childbirth and breastfeeding classes, STD testing, healthy relationship education, and soon, limited obstetric ultrasound,” said Williams.

All services are provided at no cost and are confidential. For more information about Life’s Choices of Kutztown and Hamburg, call either the Kutztown office at 610-683-8000 or Hamburg office at 484660-3526 or visit the organization’s website: www. LifesChoicesSupport.com. Appointments may also be scheduled via email to LifesChoices@hometownu.com.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS — KOLLEEN LONG This year’s Spring Chicken Run featured a new course in Bowers, covering country roads and flat stretches. The 5K was timed by Alpha and Omega Sports and results are available online.

Samantha Snyder was the fastest female and received a Golden Egg statue from Life’s Choices in Kutztown and Hamburg.

Children dashed around a half-mile track for the Chick Chase, part of the Spring Chicken FUNdraiser on Saturday, May 6. The event raised funds for Life’s Choices, a pregnancy and community resource center in Kutztown and Hamburg.

The Spring Chicken featured a new course in Bowers, covering country roads and flat stretches. Jordan Boyer was the fastest male and received a Golden Egg statue from event organizers of Life’s Choices in Kutztown and Hamburg.