United Way 5K/YMCA Family Fun Day Combine To Serve More

Approximately 100 runners took part in the United Way 5K on Saturday.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – This was the 5th Annual Live United 5K, but this year, the folks from the Mahaska County YMCA joined in the day as well. This year’s event is all about promoting health in Mahaska County. Activities ran from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, which also included a free lunch.

United Way of Mahaska County Executive Director Amy Langdon thought the days activities had gone well, “I think everyone’s having a good time.”

Around 100 runners took part in the 5k, on what turned out to be a perfect day for a run or walk. This was a small decline in the number of participants from last year, but not unexpected with the cold weather holding up training for many runners.

The YMCA Healthy Kids Day was also a big part of the day’s activities at the PAC.

“Our goal is to help give families resources and ideas of fun things to do all summer long,” explained Mahaska County YMCA Executive Director Dawn Collins.

Another initiative was handing out water bottles to the youth visitors, “we want kids to stay hydrated all summer,” explained Collins. Along with the bottles was a Frisbee to help spark some activity.

“We’re really excited to have combined with the United Way 5K because I think this just makes sense, instead of two smaller events, one large event for our community,” Collins added.

The day finished with lunch, served on the second floor at the PAC, that included veggie burgers, beef burgers and hot dogs.