DOVE event participants enjoy colorful, peppy walk/run

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield - A dry and sunny Saturday greeted participants of the 3rd Annual Color Run/Walk of Domestic Violence Escape, Inc.

DOVE, which is based in Ironwood, offered the untimed circuits at Sunday Lake, with registration at Wakefield's VFW Post 9084.

"This is the first year that we still have ice on the lake," said Jeanine Winkowski, executive director of DOVE.

Sarah Legassa of Wakefield, who was participating for the second time, joked that she was "just here for support on a nice, freezing cold morning." Legassa attended with Sally and Ricky Livingston, of Hurley.

Temperatures in the 40s were by no means cold enough to put a damper on anyone's enthusiasm for the cause, which was to raise money toward the maintenance of DOVE's shelter.

The event began with a bang, literally, when Gogebic County Circuit Judge Michael Pope shot the starting gun after a countdown.

Participants tossed nontoxic color into the air and onto themselves before beginning their trek. More color stations were available as they made their way around the lake.

Looking very colorful indeed was former Wakefield resident Jimmy Willing, who was here with wife Michelle, daughter Clarissa and baby Jacob from their current home in Green Bay.

Along with most other participants, they walked around the lake, while a few hearty souls committed to energetic runs.

"I do this because I 100 percent believe in it," said Diane Schneider of Bergland, who attended with her daughter, Melissa.

Schneider said, as a girl, she once babysat for a family and realized in the middle of the night that the father was beating the mother.

"It's hard to believe they can get away with it, but a lot of women are afraid to leave the man," she said.

Kim Seal of Mercer, said this was her third year at the event. "I think it's a great cause and I love to run," she said.

Seal was honoring an additional cause beyond DOVE. The back of her shirt stated, "In memory of Alexandra Johnston never to be forgotten."

Seal said Johnston was a girl from Ireland who had cancer and passed away. The front of Seal's shirt stated, "Keep Swimming YAYA," which she said is the name of a website honoring the girl.

Saturday's event included a 50/50 raffle, for which tickets had been sold for six weeks in advance. Adam and Paulette Clemens of Ironwood continued to sell tickets at the event.

A pancake breakfast also was included in the registration fee. Children age 10 and under participated for free.

Winkowski said members of the public were welcome to enjoy breakfast, too, for a donation of their own choosing.

She was grateful for the many volunteers who helped to make the event possible.

In addition, Winkowski said, "The VFW has been absolutely fantastic, and they have their own volunteers as well."

Local businesses also donated an array of prizes, including a Weber grill, a foot massager, a hair care basket, date night baskets, paintings, kids' games, a football signed by the whole Green Bay Packers team, a hockey puck from the Detroit Red Wings and numerous gift certificates.

"The community's wonderful," said Winkowski. "They're just wonderful."

Walkers or runners wearing tutus added to the color, and Winkowski said they were eligible for additional prizes as a result.

Among the breakfast servers were Wakefield VFW members Greg Yon, Kurt Hovey, Mike Kosc, Brad Wakefield, and Commander Jack Lillar.

Although he is not a VFW member, Dave Geyer of Ramsay said he was there to help, simply because someone called him and said to come over.

Kitchen duties were handled by cook Ted Finco, along with Dick Bolen, Jeanne Franklin, Barbara Dahl and Dave Bouillion.

Winkowski said an ambulance would stand by throughout the event "in case anything happens." She said additional layers of safety came by way of members of the Michigan State Police, the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office and the Ironwood Public Safety Department.

DOVE's Color Run/Walk was held in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.