Celebrating Success in Hardin County, Ohio

Reclaiming Futures Hardin County recently hosted our first annual Run for Recovery 5k Run/Walk & Kids Dash. The event was held in order to involve the community in the services offered from both Hardin Community School and Reclaiming Futures, while encouraging our youth to live a healthier lifestyle. The name Run for Recovery was chosen in order to incorporate Hardin County youth in all aspects of recovery, including education, along with recovery from drugs, alcohol, crime, and mental health problems.
The race was held Saturday May 25th, 2013 at Hardin Community School/Lifeworks Center. Roughly 160 runners/walkers and youth took place in the 5k and kids dash. Each participant received a goody bag filled with local offerings and a Run for Recovery 5k t-shirt.
Businesses, organizations and individuals from the community astounded us with their overwhelming support months leading up to the race! Nearly 40 separate entities showed their support with monetary donation, door prize donations, post-race refreshment, prizes for the kid’s dash, participants’ goodie bag contributions, and sponsorships for kid’s entry fees, not to mention the countless volunteers who helped with race preparation.
Race morning was no different! Our team was greeted race morning with over 20 volunteers to help us organize. Volunteers from the Sheriff’s Office, Kenton Police Department, mentors, Hardin Community Schools’ 4-H chapter, and Hardin County Vietnam vets were on site to assist our team. Throughout the race, public bystanders lined the streets to watch as the race participants passed by their homes and offices. A huge hit for the crowd was seeing Hardin County Juvenile Court’s K9, Cory, complete the 5k with her handler Sheriff Deputy Rushing.

The Run for Recovery 5k raised approximately $4,500 to contribute towards Hardin County’s youth on their journey of recovery. Money raised from this event will help us provide ongoing services and tools necessary for success that will continue to reclaim our youth…even if it is just one at a time.
Highlights from the event, including pictures, race results, and a complete list of sponsors can be seen on Hardin Community School’s Facebook Page, and on the Speedy Feet website.

Leaha Archer is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Reclaiming Futures Hardin County. Leaha joined the Reclaiming Futures Hardin County team in July of 2012 as the Community Engagement Coordinator responsible for community awareness and youth involvement. She was also a Community Control Manager responsible for a caseload comprising of youth in diversion, standard probation, and females involved in the treatment court program. She is a member of the Reclaiming Futures Fellowship Team and works closely with the youth who attend Hardin Community School, Ohio’s first recovery school for at-risk junior high and senior high students implementing pro-social activities. Leaha received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Urbana University in 2009, and served as an events coordinator for a local event center between her time at Urbana and her placement at Hardin County.