Largest Crowd Yet at Debbie Ann 5K

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Jennifer Jean Miller in In Remembrance, News Sections, Non-Profit Corner, People in the News, Sports // 0 Comments

Attendees take off at the start of the race. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

STILLWATER – Over 300 attendees and 175 registered runners gathered on Sunday, April 13 for the fourth Debbie Ann 5K at Swartswood State Park.

Held annually in memory of Debbie Ann Modrow-Snook, the proceeds benefit the Thank You Mom Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in her honor and run by her family.

Trophies for the TYM 5K first place winners in men’s and women’s categories.

In March 2004, Modrow-Snook earned “Hero Mom” status, after rescuing her son from the icy waters of Culver Lake. As she succeeded in her mission and help was on the way to come to her aid, they missed her by about a minute as she slipped under the frigid waters.

With her legacy of helping over her lifetime, from raising funds for charitable causes to collecting and donating coats to warm the homeless over the winter months, her heart was always geared to thinking of ways to deliver comfort and assistance to the lives of others.

With her final act in saving the life of her son, her family wished to find a way to honor her memory and carry on Modrow-Snook’s tradition of helping others. The Thank You Mom (TYM) Foundation was the response.

Attendees register for the 5K.

Since its inception, the Thank You Mom Foundation has donated their proceeds to local families in need as well as organizations that Modrow-Snook herself assisted during her lifetime, including the American Red Cross Heroes Campaign and Project Self-Sufficiency (she was known to deliver clothes to the organization, which has a service for the women the organization works with that provides interview clothing for those seeking jobs). Other groups that have received funds have included: Healing for Haley, Team Alexa and Kari’s Kids.

TYM Debbie Ann 5K sunglass giveaways for participants.

The day started out with the annual 5K run through Swartswood State Park at 1 p.m. Unlike the past two years when the weather was sunny or partly-sunny though extremely windy and cooler, the temperatures at this year’s run hit close to 75 degrees and the warm weather was accompanied by a light breeze. Men, women, teens and children all participated in the run, though some walked in, and many walked it with their dogs. Following the course, runners and spectators enjoyed a barbecue together in the pavilion area overlooking the park and beach.

Click here for full race results.

The first finisher for men and overall was Hunter Jackman at 17:25. Ian Anderson followed in second at 18:46, with Kyle Grunn in third at 19:39.

In first for the females was Modrow-Snook’s niece Marissa Coombs at 21:04. Coombs was the fifth person to cross the finish line. In sixteenth place overall and second for females was Cathy Roy with a time of 23:24. The third female to finish the course was Abby Stark, who finished eighteenth overall at 24:34.