Swim/Bike/Run results in 24 hours, 828 miles and raised community awareness
By
April 26, 2010
100 area residents, 24 hours and 828 miles.
Those are the numbers Richland County Children Services hopes add up to greater awareness of child abuse and neglect prevention efforts. 
During the agency’s seventh annual Swim, Bike and Run effort at the Mansfield Area Y, which began Friday at 5 p.m. and ended 24 hours later, a total of 100 agency employees and volunteers swam 34 miles, bicycled 508 miles and ran/walked 286 miles.
Click here for our photo gallery from the event.
That’s an 18 percent increase over the mileage compiled last year, according to Greg Kahl, who organized the event for RCCS. Kahl was at the Y throughout the event, which saw someone swimming, biking or running every hour.
The length of the event, staged each year during National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, is designed to highlight the agency’s 24/7 child abuse hotline at 419-774-4100. During 2009, the agency launched eight child abuse investigations every 24 hours.
Carol Sgambellone, a social worker who coordinates family team meetings for the agency, said after her participation she hoped the community takes notice of the meaning behind the event.
“First and foremost, the purpose of this event, and our agency, is to keep kids safe and to help families,” she said.
Lexington resident Mike Baldridge was one of several participants who did an hour of each discipline.
“I know it’s for a good cause and I wanted to come out to see how far I could push myself,” he said after swimming a mile, biking 11 miles and running six miles.
Notable local marathon runner Rich Roberts covered 50 miles on the bike during the wee hours of Saturday morning and then jumped straight onto a treadmill for an eight-mile run.
News Journal photographer/fitness blogger biked 17 miles in an hour and then swam a mile late Friday night. He came back to the Y early Saturday morning to run seven miles before he went to Columbus to take photos at the OSU spring football game.
Others who did all three events included Jennifer Lovra (19.6 total miles), Mike Baldridge (18 miles), Josh Shifley (22.8 miles), Nathan Lautzenhiser (21.8 miles), Aaron Brumit (25 miles), Scott Evans (24 miles), Brian Coon (17.05 miles) and Kim Brown (20.8 miles).
Bob Gleason swam 5.7 miles in the Y pool during his stint, the longest swim of the event. Josh Thrasher swam 5 miles. Bob Schrodr had a 7-mile run. The husband-and-wife team of Mike and Deb Broderick came in during the middle of the night, each taking an hour on the treadmill and an hour in the pool.
After the marathon ended, Kahl thanked the agency employees, volunteers and the Y.
“The Y has supported our event for all seven years,” he said. “Without their support and their state-of-the-art facility, this event would not be possible.
“We thank everyone who participated, especially the Mid-Ohio Multi Sport Club for putting up big miles,” Kahl said. “Our goal is to increase awareness of the fact Children Services is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help kids safe and families strong.”
Click here for coverage of the event on WMFD.com.
Click here for a photo gallery from the event at MansfieldNewsJournal.com.
Busy weekend included Minority Health Fair
A busy weekend for the agency included a booth on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the annual Minority Health Fair at the Ocie Hill Community Center.
The agency used the event continue its educational efforts during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Staff members handed out tons of free popcorn and pinwheels and also provide packets with information on how to become foster and/or adoptive parents.
The booth was manned throughout the event by Richland County Children Services employees.
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