Gesture appreciated
Columbus Police Department Sgt. Richard Howell ran the Mill Race Marathon on Sept. 23 to honor the memory of U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon Hunter, a 2011 Columbus East High School graduate who died Aug. 2 in a suicide bombing attack on a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan that also killed another soldier.
With permission from Hunter’s father, Mark, Howell carried with him one of Hunter’s challenge coins from his airborne division. Howell also worked with race organizers to have marathon medals made for Hunter’s father, wife and brother that were inscribed on the back “In memory of Sgt. Jonathon Hunter.”
Kudos to Howell and race organizers for the kind gesture and making sure Hunter’s legacy lives on.
Helpful gift
The mission of the Women’s Giving Circle of Bartholomew County is to engage women of all generations and means in philanthropy. Its Turning the Page project will provide books — including biographies — of empowering women and strong female characters to area elementary libraries. That’s helpful for young girls seeking examples of women from which they can draw inspiration.
What’s also appreciated is that Faurecia is donating $5,000 to the Women’s Giving Circle. That support, along with financial help from other donors, is making the books possible.
This is a winning combination for Columbus and all the young girls who will benefit.
Good sign
The fifth annual Mill Race Marathon’s Kids Fun Run on Sept. 22 drew 1,367 registrants, of which a record 1,235 finished — easily surpassing the previous record of 1,053 in 2015.
This was a great sign as local marathon organizers and community health partners have worked to promote healthy and active lifestyles among children.
Seeing so many children enjoying a running race — many for the first time — and a healthy activity speaks well of those efforts and the receptiveness of parents and children.
