At various times throughout the year, roads, parks and many other locations are flooded with runners and walkers who participate in events throughout the county and Tri-State.

Events such as the St. Mary’s Medical Center Veterans Memorial Day 5K, the Dragon Run, the Faith and Fitness 5K, Jeremiah 38 5K, Rally for the Cure 5K, and the Brian Trent Memorial 5K are among so many that provide a unique experience.

These events serve a dual purpose for organizers and participants.

Individuals not only have the opportunity to exercise and promote healthy activities, but many organizations use these events to make contributions to various entities or raise funds for projects within their organization.

Often each of these events has a story or great cause at their inception, and such events can be a tool for enhancing awareness of those causes or issues in our communities.

Whether is it a run or walk to raise awareness for a disease or to help others through an organization; next time you enter one of these events, take the time to learn the background and what the cause is.

These events can be a vital part of our communities and continue to grow. We encourage families and individuals of all ages to get involved either as a participant or volunteer.

Working together not only on business projects but as volunteers in community projects will make Lawrence County even more special than it is already.