Continuing The Race For A Friend
After his good friend, Jeremy Blackburn, passed away from cancer in February, Doug Koontz felt it was important to carry on the legacy he started. Blackburn was founder and the first director of the Run for Others, a race supporting Water for Good, a nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the water crisis in the Central African Republic.
Now in its sixth year, Koontz is not only a participant in the race but is also the new race director. The sixth annual Blackburn Run for Others (renamed in memory of its founder) is set to start at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 13, from the Trailhouse in the Village at Winona, located at 1001 E. Canal St., Winona Lake.
“Jeremy started something that was growing and I want to expand on it,” said Koontz, who owns a construction business locally. “It has become a great way to look outside Winona Lake and do something that can help globally.”
Water for Good’s mission is to work collaboratively, in long-term partnership, with communities in central Africa, empowering people with sustainable access to clean water, transformational sanitation principles and improved agricultural resources. Well drilling and maintenance is performed by locals, so work can continue no matter what is happening in the country, said Koontz.
Last year, the race raised more than $5,000 to provide clean water for the villagers.
As race director, Koontz has many responsibilities before and during the race. He not only secures sponsorships and promotes the event, but also find volunteers to help run the race smoothly. This year, he’s not only directing but also running in the race.
“Jeremy was a runner in high school. He was the one who got me into running six or seven years ago,” said Koontz. “I started because he was doing it.”
Runners can sign-up either before or on the day of the race. Register for the race at waterforgood.org/blackburn or stop by MudLove, 122 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, or Belove, 804 Park Ave., in the Village at Winona.
The race will kick off that day’s Lakes Festival activities in Winona Lake. The festival runs June 5 to 20 in Kosciusko County. It will follow the Lake City Greenway to Roy Street and back.
For more information on the Blackburn Run for Others contact Koontz at [email protected].