Racing for a cure

* Area runners team up to help Cystic Fibrosis sufferers.

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

A self-described running junkie, Buster Crutcher, O'Sullivan Industries sample shop coordinator, decided to combine his love of running with a desire to help others into an annual event to help Cystic Fibrosis sufferers. Now in its sixth year the Heritage State Bank Cystic Fibrosis 10K Fun Run an annual 10 kilometer (6.2 miles) run will be held Saturday, May 7, starting in the Lamar City Park.

"My daughter is in school with a boy in the seventh grade who has CF," Crutcher said. "I'm a running junkie, anytime I can put a race on I try to. This seemed to be a good match, runners helping others."

Crutcher said that his sponsors have helped to make the race a success. "Heritage State Bank and Doc's Pizza have really helped out," Crutcher said. "Without them it just wouldn't be possible."

The race begins and ends at Lamar's city park. The course, laid out with the aid of a GPS device, is as close to 10 kilometers as Crutcher could make it. "It isn't a certified course but it's as close as we could make it," Crutcher said.

The circular course will head to the southeast part of Lamar from the park, turn north and go past the Lamar High School and back to the park. "We'll have a water station at the half way point," Crutcher said.

Preregistration costs $11 while registering the day of the race costs $12. T-shirts will be given to the first 20 entrants and awards will go to the top three winners in each division. "We're also going to have a traveling trophy," Crutcher said. "We'll give it to the person who comes the longest distance to run."

The organizers also have a 1 mile fun run for children within the park itself. "We do require a parent's signature because of liability issues but the race is free," Crutcher said.

Crutcher said anyone wishing to contact him for more information can call 417-682-8348 or send him an e-mail to buster.crutcher@osullivan.com