CONWAY — The fourth annual Freezin’ for a Reason 5K/10K in Conway “went really well” and exceeded its goal for participation, race director Karil Greeson said.
The event, which was held Feb. 6, starting at John McConnell Stadium at Conway High School, is sponsored by the Faulkner County Chapter of Circle of Friends. All proceeds from the race go to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
The event lived up to its name. “It was cold, very cold that morning,” she said.
Greeson said the goal of 700 runners was surpassed.
“We ended up with 816 registered runners, which is big. That’s up 200 more than last year,” she said. “We had 120 people register in two days that last week.”
Two Greenbrier men won the races. The 10K winner was Spencer Demers; the 5K winner was Cain Newton.
The fundraising goal was $40,000, and it’s close, she said. “Our preliminary numbers look like $38,000,” Greeson said. “The Children’s Hospital Foundation thinks we made $40,000, so donations may have been made directly to them.
“When we raise money, we pick what we want it to go toward; a portion goes to the Circle of Friends Clinic on the ACH campus; then a portion to the hematology/oncology unit. A portion is earmarked this year to build the hospital in Northwest Arkansas.”
Freezin’ for a Reason is the largest fundraiser in Faulkner County for Arkansas Children’s Hospital, she said.
Greeson said there was plenty of food for race participants and attendees, too.
“Local businesses really came together to make sure it was a fun event,” she said. “We got feedback from people who said it was very well organized, and they’ll be back next year. That’s what you want, to keep building on it.”
The race was started to honor the memories of Charlotte and Stella Mulhearn, daughters of Travis and Amanda Mulhearn of Conway, who died five years apart of unrelated causes. Charlotte, 6 weeks old, had a rare viral heart infection and died in 2007; Stella, 3, had a brain tumor and died in 2012. Even though neither situation had a happy ending, Amanda said her girls received “unmatched” care at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
The Mulhearns have since adopted a daughter, Riley, who is 3.
Greeson said Mulhearn “is still very involved [with the race]; she helped a lot this year.”
Mulhearn said it was the best race, as far as participation and donations, since the first year of the event.
“It was a really good race; it was absolutely amazing,” she said.
Mulhearn credited Greeson for being “a phenomenal race director.”
Although the event started because of Charlotte and Stella, “some people will connect for their own personal reasons, and that’s what I hope they continue to do,” Mulhearn said.
Greeson was involved with the Faulkner County Chapter of Circle of Friends before she gave birth to twin daughters, Isabella and Alexis, in 2013. They were born with twin anemia polycythemia sequence, or TAPS, an extremely rare form of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, she said. Isabella’s condition led to a heart infection, which was treated at Arkansas Children’s Hospital when she was 8 days old, and Greeson credits the hospital with saving her daughter’s life.
The race is always the first Saturday in February, which will be Feb. 4 in 2017.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.