Run For Our Sons

Why was Route 82 closed from the roundabout to Willowdale this past Saturday morning? For the annual 5K Run For Our Sons, a fundraiser for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It was a sunny, warm, breezy morning and a big crowd turned out, including large T-shirted contingents (both students and teachers) from the elementary schools, Patton Middle School and Unionville High School, as well as a substantial group of Kennett Demons. Even the Hillendale Elementary mascot, the Husky, was there to cheer on the runners.

I was there to support the Young Relative (who turned in a more-than-respectable time, way to hustle!). Because Route 82 was closed, we spectators got to stand in the middle of the road to get a crossing guard's view as the runners left the middle school driveway, headed right on 82, went through the developments and then came back up 82. We saw a couple of runners who were just edged out by dogged competitors in the very last yard or so of the race.
There were some very young boys and girls running (good for them!), and I saw one very sweet couple holding hands as they approached the finish line, pushing their baby in front of them in a stroller. One dad was running with his daughter and had his smartphone out, taking photos of her as they finished.
As I went back to the car I heard a dad estimating with his son and friends how much money was raised, taking into the account crowd estimates, entry fees and expense. What an excellent real-life math problem! (As if the kids needed more problems after a week of PSSA tests.)