Race Day
SAVE THE DATE! 10TH ANNUAL THUMBS UP EVENT
9.16.2023
Orono Park
18599 Gary Street, Elk River, MN 55330
Early Registration & Packet Pickup
Friday, Sept. 15th, 2022
4-7pm – Early T-shirt & Packet Pick Up
Location: Orono Park
Address: 18599 Gary St. NW, Elk River, MN 55330
Chalk Party! Help us Chalk the Walk with positive messages and remembrance of our loved ones! (chalk provided)
Saturday, Sept. 16th, 2023
- 7:30am – 9:30am – Packet Pickup & Same-Day Registration
- 9:00am – Opening Ceremony & Keynote Speaker
- 9:45am – Stretching
- 10:00am – 5K & 10K Bikers Start
- 10:05am – 5K & 10K Runners Start
- 10:15am – 5K Walkers Start
- 11:00am – Kids Activities begin
- 12:00-12:20pm – Grounding Yoga in Grief Tent
Directions & Parking Information
- Event Location: Orono Park
- Parking Location: Sherburne County Fairgrounds – 18335 Joplin St NW, Elk River, MN 55330
- Parking is free/no-charge
Other Activities & Info
- Must register by August 31st, 2022 to be guaranteed a t-shirt with your registration fee
- Bring a photo of your loved one for the Memory Tree
- Friendly dogs are welcome at the event. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Please clean up after your pets.
- Mental Health Vendors will be On-Site
- Dress for the weather
Kids Activities
- Obstacle Course – Kids 12 & under ($20/child)
- Bounce Houses, Crazy Hair, Face Painting & Animal Balloons
- Kindness Rock Painting by Plaisted Companies
Food Trucks & Beverages
- Food Trucks
- Free complimentary coffee
- Water Stations along route
Other Information
- Bring a photo of your loved one for the Memory Tree
- Mental Health Vendors
Kids Obstacle Course
- The Kids Obstacle Course is just $20! Kids can also participate with you on the 5K run/walk/bike event
- Must register by August 31st, 2023 to be guaranteed a t-shirt with your registration fee
- The obstacle course will start off with a HUGE bounce house obstacle course followed by stepping stones, big planet exercise balls to roll around and jump on top of, balance beams, tunnels and more!
Keynote Speakers – Shannon Lee & Janet Casperson
Two Mothers Unite to Help Others Who Struggle.
After each of them suffered a loss in 2020, two mothers from Blaine, Minnesota are putting a focus on mental health for kids. Mothers Janet Casperson and Shannon Lee share the unimaginable pain and heartbreak of losing children in 2020. Janet’s son Sam Casperson and Shannon’s daughter Ashlyn Lee had dated briefly before both died by suicide about six weeks apart.
One area of focus, particularly for Shannon, when it comes to teenage mental health is social media. “Kids don’t realize their words and actions, both good and bad, have such a profound impact on people,” said Shannon. “They just don’t see that behind the screen.” Shannon says Ashlyn was badly bullied online before her death last February.
The pair of moms have since become great friends and mental health advocates. They are vowing to use their voices and experiences to save other young lives. They hope to share a message of resilience and coping skills to help others get through a tough season and for those greiving the loss of a loved one by suicide.
View Elk River Star News Article here.
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