Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Sheriff's officers run for fund-raiser

By LARRY BUGG
Published January 13, 2005

Many of the county's finest lawmen ran a marathon Sunday to help them save the lives of citizens.

Nine Citrus County Sheriff's officers competed in the Disney Marathon as a fund-raiser. Two officers also were in the half marathon.

The officers, including Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, were able to raise $10,000. The money will buy five defibrillators. The runners sweated it out in weather warmer than expected.

"We had a great time," said Sgt. Phil Royal, the training coordinator. "We ran in record high temperatures for the Disney Marathon. It was in the mid 80s by the time most people finished. It was probably in the mid 60s when we started. People didn't do as well as they wanted to.

"Every single one of us crossed the finish line, and that is a remarkable thing," he said. "I was very pleased that all of our guys that set the goal finished."

Defibrillators are heart machines that will be installed in the officers' squad cars. "The defibrillators deliver a shock to the heart when the heart has stopped beating," Royal said. "These are often used in emergency rooms. Anybody can use them.

"We raised the money for the American Heart Association, and they basically gave us money to purchase the defibrillators."

The officers made this a team effort. "We called ourselves the Sheriff Stars Marathon Training Team," Royal said. "We paired off in groups. They stayed together in three different pairs of two."

David Vincent and Royal crossed the line in 600th place out of 24,000 people. They finished in 3 hours, 48 minutes.

"The most spectacular part was that Vincent's 22-month-old son, Ethan, was handed to him by his wife, Angel, and Vincent and his son ran the last 200 yards together with me," Royal said. "It made the whole thing emotional."

Sheriff Jeff Dawsy came up with the idea to run as a fund-raiser, according to Royal.

"I lost two very close family members to heart attacks," Dawsy said. "When the American Heart Association asked me to sit on the local board, I thought this (marathon) would be a great way to raise money for the American Heart Association.

"A large majority of us raised money from the community," he said. "We were very excited that the community supported it. We felt this was a great endeavor. The community is helping us and, in turn, we are helping them. It was an emotional accomplishment for all of us."

The other marathon runners were Cmdr. Wayne Burns, Deputy Derrick Bogart, Detective Mickey Dixon, Lt. Buddy Grant, Cmdr. Bob Blume and Deputy Kurt Lynn. The half marathon competitors were Lt. Doug Dodd and Detective John Novy.

To donate to the American Heart Association, call 352 726-4488, ext. 252; or send an e-mail to proyal@sheriffcitrus.org

NATURE COAST DUATHLON: The DRC Athletic Event Management will have the duathlon at Crystal River Mall on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

Registration for the 2-mile run, 10-mile bike ride and 2-mile run can be done at crtri.com or the day of race at 7:30. The cost is $35 pre-registered. For information, call (352) 637-2475.

FLATLANDERS CHALLENGE: The 26th annual event is scheduled for Jan. 29 in Brooksville. The 10K (6 miles) starts at 8:30 a.m. The 2-mile fun run is at 9:45. This is part of the Road Warriors Grand Prix series and sponsored by the Red Mule Runners Club. The starting point is south of the Brooksville Library on Main Street. The cost for the 10K is $17 pre-race and $20 on the day of event. The 2-mile is $12 before and $15 on race day.

Runners can register at active.com, www.redmulerunners.com or by calling 352 688-6484.

- Larry Bugg can be reached at larrybugg@msn.com

[Last modified January 13, 2005, 00:51:20]