8th annual Swim, Bike & Run launches child abuse prevention month

MANSFIELD -- More than 120 participants racked up 836 miles April 1-2 during Richland County Children Services eighth-annual 24-hour Swim, Bike, Run event at the Mansfield Area Y.

The event, which began Friday, April 1, at 5 p.m., concluded Saturday, April 2, at 5 p.m. It was the agency's way of launching April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

(Click here to see a photo gallery from the event.)

"We do a 24-hour event to remind the public that our agency is open 24/7 to take calls from the public about child abuse and neglect," said Carl Hunnell, the agency's communications supervisor. "There is never a need to wait until the next morning, or until Monday, if someone suspects a child has been abused or neglected. 

"When you call 419-774-4100, any time of the day or night, you will speak to a trained social worker who will take your information, ask questions, assess the situation and make a decision on how best to proceed," Hunnell said.

"If it's an emergency situtaion, we will respond immediately," he said.

Among the participants were 60 volunteers and 63 agency employees and their family members. Each participant agreed to spend at least one hour during the event swimming, biking or walking/running. The agency again accomplished its goal of ensuring someone was doing at least one one of the three disciplines for the entire 24-hour period.

"We could not do this event without our friends at the Mansfield Area Y allowing us to use their great facility," Hunnell said. "They give us free access for the event and their cooperation makes it all possible."

The 836 miles is eight miles more than the agency put together during the same event in 2010. There were 447 miles of running/walking, 359 miles of biking and 30 miles of swimming.