Leola Lions 5K To Return
Bareville, Leola, Leacock Lions Club member Ken McCombs has been helping to organize the Leola Lions Country Run/Walk 5K for a number of years, but the event has not been held since 2019. "We had to cancel (in 2021)," said McCombs, who noted that the 2020 race was also not held. Both events were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Now, the race will be back with a few changes. Originally an evening run held in the fall, the 2022 event, which will be the 20th run, will be held on Saturday, May 14, beginning at the upper pavilion at Leola Community Park and Pool, 23 E. Main St., Leola. Registration will start at 7 a.m., and the race will start at 8:30 a.m.
One thing that has not changed is the challenging course, which includes plenty of rolling hills. The course will begin on North Maple Avenue near Aspen Drive and turn right on Center Square Road. The run will turn right again at Brethren Church Road and then right on Peace Road before turning left again on North Maple Avenue and returning to the starting line.
Awards will be given to the top male and female runners in eight categories, which are 14 and under, 15 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 and over. The club began giving out special Lions Paw medallions in 2019, and McCombs said those will be handed out again this year.
Funds raised by the run are used to support Lions Club projects, which include local Scout troops, VisionCorps, and the PA Lions Beacon Lodge Camp in Mount Union for children with special needs.
Participants who register by Sunday, April 24, will receive a discount and a T-shirt. Registration is discounted for those age 18 and under. Registrations received after April 24 will not be discounted and T-shirts will be given out while they last. Readers may register online through http://www.leolalions.com or call 717-587-2436, 717-475-8598, or 717-808-5124. "We are able to keep the registration fee down because of some generous sponsorships," noted McCombs.
Lions Clubs International is known as the world's largest service club organization with more than 40,000 clubs in over 200 areas around the world. The Leola Lions Club meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6:15 p.m. at the Leola War Memorial Building, 54 W. Main St., Leola. "We are always open for new members, and guests can visit and observe a meeting," said McCombs, who noted that the club currently has about 25 members and that two were added within the last year.
Leave a Review