Sunday, October 19, 2014

The 2014 Harvest of Hope 5K

In the first row, Daniel is in all black with Green Shoes. The man on the right on the left is from Shippensburg University as well as the two women on the right.



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.

 What about the race?

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.
 
 The third and final leg of the Race

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

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.   

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