Inaugural ‘Love Run’ draws good crowd on chilly day

by Staff Pioneer Times
11 years ago

With just as many walkers as runners, the inaugural 5K Strong Tower Love Run/Walk was held Saturday at the Military Street Baptist Church.
The 100 participants started their 3.1-mile route at the base of Drake’s Hill and heading down Military Street, left on Hillview Avenue, right on Franklin Avenue, right on Court Street and back to Military Street and up Drake’s Hill and finishing at the church.
The overall winners were husband and wife, Joe and Angela Ewings of Houlton. Joe finished the course on a blustery day in a time of 21:37, followed by his wife at 22:28. In third was Larry Tonzi, 22:53; and fourth, the Ewings’ oldest daughter, Teagan, 23:27 and fifth, Bob McHatten, 24:10.
There were many first-time race runners, along with others who came out to participate in support of the mission of Strong Tower Orphanage.
Another unique scene during the race was pinned to Chris Robinson’s shirt. Robinson wore a photograph of Spc. Dustin Harris, 21, who was killed while serving with the U.S. Army in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006.
Spc. Harris died while on patrol in Bayji, Iraq as a result of injuries caused by an improvised explosive device. He was serving with the U.S. Army’s 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Robinson was instrumental in setting up a 100-mile Wilderness Walk in July for a seven-man team — Robinson, along with his brother Tim Robinson, Gary White, Jr., Tom Steeves, Gary Shea, Joe Treadwell and Josh Blaine — hiking 114 miles over one week to raise money for Maine veterans.
The Wilderness Walk for Warriors begins at Monson and traveled to Abol Bridge and culminated at the top of Mt. Katahdin.
Robinson has a heart for veterans and their families. Each race he runs, he carries one of the fallen soldiers with him, near his heart.
“I grew up in Sherman,” said Robinson. “I graduated with Lona Harris’ brother, Todd Trout from Katahdin High School and during the 9-11 Heroes Run in Bangor, I reconnected with Lona’s father, James Trout, who knew my father.”
Wearing Harris’ photo on his chest is just a hometown tribute.
“When I run races, I like to wear a fallen soldier’s photograph, it shows respect,” Robinson added.
Even with all of the other distinctive race points, the whole reason for the 5K Love Run/Walk is enveloped in the Military Street Baptist Church in the form of two young children — Sophie and Jamison Weston, children of Kristi and Kevin Weston. The couple adopted the two children from Haiti.
There are still more little ones awaiting a loving home at the orphanage.
“Ten little girls who once were lost, alone, and without hope have now been found and are living lives of love and family at Strong Tower Orphanage in Caracol, Haiti,” said Martha Bell, one of the race directors. “Each of the girls were represented throughout the course as well as their personal signatures included on the T-shirts, making this a powerfully moving experience that participants won’t forget.”
Each child’s face appeared on red heart-shaped signs along the course route.
In June 2013, the first orphan home opened with nine girls in care and a 10th girl joined the family in 2014.  But there’s room for more. The house was built to become home to 20 girls, which means 10 spaces await those roaming the streets without family at this time.
Before the race started, the participants gathered in the form of a heart and raised red balloons to show their support and love for those who are orphaned. Even though the race is over for this year and is planned to be an annual event, those who would like to offer any means of support or any organization that is interested in having a presenter share more about Strong Tower Orphanage and the work being done in Caracol, Haiti, may contact Lori Gardiner at 532-6614.
To learn more, visit www.strongtowerorphanage.comhttp://www.strongtowerorphanage.com/ and like Strong Tower Orphanage on Facebook for information and event updates.
Overall results:
1. Joe Ewings21:37
2. Angela Ewings    22:28
3. Larry Tonzi    22:53
4. Teagan Ewings    23:27
5. Bob McHatten    24:10
6. Grace Graham    24:24
7. Don Eno    24:43
8. Olivia Nadeau    24:56
9. LeeRae Oliver    25:07
10. Martha Bell    25:14
11. Al Hanscom    25:24
12. Courtney Jurson    25:33
13. Bill Emery    25:46
14. Evan Lewis    25:54
15. Kirk Ward    26:16
16. Sarah Graham    26:17
17. Chris Robinson    26:29
18. Jared Drake    26:55
19. Isaac Potter    27:11
20. Dylan Crockett    27:12
21. Kiley Henderson    27:24
22. Mia Henderson    27:35
23. Teanne Ewings    27:48
24. Emmaly Jurson    29:02
25. Morgan Drake    29:08
26. Jamie Rockwell    29:29
27. Emily Dow    29:36
28. Karen Carmichael    30:39
29. Zachary Oliva    30:49
30. Cheryl Quint    31:11
31. Wendy Lewis    31:18
32. Sam Johnson    31:19
33. Joel Carmichael    31:20
34. Walker Oliver    32:08
35. Russ Beauchemin    32:56
36. Heather Johnson    33:08
37. Mary Potter    33:34
38. Kelly Silverthorn    35:34
39. Silas Nadeau    35:44
40. Anna Oliver    36:18
41. Tom Hannigan    41:39
42. Rusty Taylor    43:18
43. Paul Adams    43:21