Holding Hope held the 2014 Harvest of Hope 5K
meet on Saturday morning, Oct. 18, 2014. Jason Derr is the co-founder of
Holding Hope. He currently works as a Special Education Teacher for the West
Shore School District. He has previous work experience as a teacher in the
Central Dauphin Schools and has served on staff as a Christian Education
Director for a local church. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Mansfield
University and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development and Leadership
from Shippensburg University. His passion for serving families of children with
life-threatening illnesses emerged after his son, Tyler, was diagnosed with
cancer in 2009.
He presently resides in Etters, PA, with his
wife Chrissy who is the co-founder of Holding Hope. Their son Tyler, who is a cancer survivor and is more than two years off
treatment.
Holding Hope is a non-profit organization that was started to provide respite
housing and support services for the families of children with life threatening
illnesses currently being treated at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.
Due to regular treatments, hospitalizations, and overall health concerns, many
of these kids and their families are unable to escape routine to grow closer to
one another, to laugh and play together, to relax, and to heal.
Holding Hope wants to come alongside these families and provide them with moments together to pause, relax, and rejuvenate as a family. We are working to raise funds to build a unique respite facility that will provide a therapeutic atmosphere where the family unit will get away from everyday stresses and pressures but still be close to home and the hospital to ensure peace of mind.
The race
started at 9:00 AM, with Daniel starting out in second place going downhill. This race was one of the most challenging
races, Daniel ever ran in. He had to run a course that included three laps
running up and down a large hills.
The first leg of the Race
Daniel
disposed of his 14 and under competition early in the race. His real competition
was against the Shippensburg University Cross Country Members. No, I did not
expect Daniel, a 9 year old Paxtonia Elementary School 4th grader to beat Shippensburg
University athletes. However, Daniel
tried anyway. The overall men's winner
ran the 5K in 15 Minutes 29 Seconds. The
second place winner finish not too far from him.
The second leg of the Race
The two girls were worried and kept looking
back at Daniel to see how far away he was from them. No college people on a
University Cross Country Team wants to be beaten by a 9 year old.
Daniel, the
"Flash" finished in 5th place overall with a time of 27 Minutes and
16 Seconds. That is 11 Minutes, 47 Seconds behind a top rated University Cross
Country Athlete.
Harvest of Hope 5K RESULTS 10/18/2014
PLACE NAME TIME AGE GENDER DIV PLACE
1 Stephen Schelander 15:29 24 M Overall M Shippenburg Senior
PLACE NAME TIME AGE GENDER DIV PLACE
1 Stephen Schelander 15:29 24 M Overall M Shippenburg Senior
2 Matt Bemis 23:40 47 M 1st 45-49
3 Natalie Roth 25:31 30 F Overall F
4 Amy Snyder 25:31 32 F 1st 30-34
5 Daniel 27:16 9 M 1st 14 & U
6 Derrick Dimitris 31:36 33 M 1st 30-34
7 Sarah Dimitris 31:38 31 F 2nd 30-34
8 Kaitlin Yoder 34:35 25 F 1st 25-29
9 Eric Yoder 34:38 25 F 2nd 25-29
10 Casandra Reifsnyder 39:19 32 F 3rd 30-34
11 Dan Wevadau 39:21 36 M 1st 35-39
12 Carin Carl 40:38 38 F 1st 35-39
13 Tyler 58:07 9 M 2nd 14 & U
14 Amy Elridge 58:12 39 F 2nd 35-39
15 Olahna 61:53 9 F 1st 14 & U
16 Jasmine Lynch 62:08 29 F 3rd 35-39
This meet
will help Daniel run in the Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia on November 8, 2014. The hills in
this meet will help him win the USATF Mid-Atlantic Association and move on to
the Region 2 meet in Hershey Pennsylvania.
Region 2 Junior Olympic
Championships
|
November 22
|
Mid-Atlantic
|
National Junior Olympic
Championships
|
December 13
|
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
|
If he qualities for nationals, he will represent
his Region in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
