Editor's Note: shameless promotion

Well, Journals readers, it’s time for full disclosure, followed by a shameless promotion.

In order to write an article about this upcoming event, I would have had to interview myself, thus admitting my absolutely biased interest in the publicity.

So I’ll just come clean right away.

I want everyone to come out and participate in the First Annual Sadie Rose 5K and Walk in Dayton. The race will be June 16, the day before Father’s Day, at Wilbur Pence Middle School. If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly event to share together, this would be a good one. The course is 3.1 miles over rolling roads around Dayton, and there is also a 1.5-mile walk suitable for children and strollers. Well-behaved pooches on leash are welcome.

We’ll have overall and age group awards, including miniature rose bushes for winners, as well as a raffle and a spread of yummy, post-race refreshments.

It’ll be a good time, I promise, even if you’ve never done one before. And it’s for a great cause.

This is a fundraiser for a Dayton-based non-profit organization called The Sadie Rose Foundation, which offers support to families who have experienced child, infant or pregnancy loss. The group was founded by former Journals employee Regina Cyzick Harlow and her husband, Lee, after the loss of their infant daughter, Sadie Rose.

When I became a board member, I volunteered to help Regina start this race for several reasons. Events like this not only raise much-needed funds, but also get the word out about what the foundation does and who it helps. If one grieving person reaches out or decides to attend a support meeting, then the race has already been successful—regardless of how many entrants we have.

I also volunteered to direct this race because I know from past experience that these events bring an entire community together. From 2007-2009, I was co-race director of the Chickenstock 5K in Broadway, a benefit for Broadway Hometown Partnership. Karen Klasnick, then executive director of BHP, collaborated with town officials, the police department and local service groups to help stage our race. Business owners donated an astounding number of prizes and volunteers helped make the race  a success year after year.

I hope the same thing happens with this race in Dayton.  We’d like to see this race grow and grow—to become a celebration of life, love, remembrance and healing, as well as a fun event for residents and visitors. We hope people come to run and stay to enjoy Dayton’s many attractions or patronize local businesses.

Regina and I both have strong ties to the Dayton area: she grew up nearby and I’m a former resident and frequent visitor. The Sadie Rose Foundation office is in town and support group meetings are held at the Dayton Church of the Brethren.

The outpouring of community support has already begun: the Dayton Police Department, school and town officials, private donors and local business owners have jumped to help.

I’ve told Regina that even if we have 20 people in the race, it’s already been worth it. Now we just need participants.

The Sadie Rose 5K and Walk is June 16 at Wilbur Pence Middle School. Race day registration and packet pick-up is from 7-8:30 a.m. To find a registration form, visit www.sadierosefoundation.org.

The pre-registration fee is $20. T-shirts are guaranteed to those pre-registered by June 4. There will be a limited supply available, first-come, first-serve, on race day. Families or teams of four or more people take $3 off the entry fee, regardless of when you register. So clubs, congregations, Sunday school classes, athletic teams, breakfast groups, knitters… think up a wacky name and send in your form.

Race day registration is $25.

For more information, call 810-4351.