Rejoice Run 5K and Mom’s Mile continues its mission of supporting breast cancer awareness
This year’s staging of the Rejoice Run 5K and Mom’s Mile event, held last Saturday at the historic firehouse complex in downtown Donalsonville, was another huge success. The 2022 event was held in memory of Betty Mims, cancer survivor and co-founder of Seminole County Warpath on Cancer. She was scheduled to be this year’s feature speaker but lost her life in a tragic vehicle accident on September 26.
In her memory, the event’s speaker was Angie Burke, Betty’s daughter, the 5K race’s starters were Carlee and Nicole Groomes, Betty’s granddaughter and great granddaughter and the race’s opening prayer was given by Stephanie Mims, Betty’s daughter-in law. All members of Betty’s family were on hand for the event and assisted with other aspects of the race.
The event also featured a birthday celebration for long-time event runner Pat Carmichael who ran with his daughter on his 90th birthday .
Race organizer Steffey Vines was beaming with pride after the event and so very thankful to everyone who helped to make this year’s Rejoice Run and Mom’s Mile a success. Vines commented, “I am overwhelmed with the support this year’s event received. I was so appreciative of how much the community supports this event. I was very pleased this year with the turn out, and I am also so very thankful for our continued partnership with Donalsonville Hospital – helping us use all of the race’s proceeds to help and assist those in need right here at home.”
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer here in Seminole County. All proceeds from the event will go toward the funding of free mammogram screenings for Seminole County citizens at Donalsonville Hospital in the month of October.
Steffey’s parents, Anne and Emilio Coirini, were always involved in each year’s previous races and her mom, Anne, is the namesake for the name of the run and walk. Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2004 after a routine mammogram. She had a lumpectomy and then had mammosite targeted radiation therapy. She was proud of being a survivor and loved being an active part of Joyce’s Jog.
“Mom passed away in 2018 and I wanted to name the fun run in her memory. I chose Mom’s Mile because not only will she live on in the race she loved but it will help honor others moms who have fought breast cancer, and the rejoice part, well, after surviving a hurricane and a health pandemic, we all have a reason to do that,” commented Vines.
Vines concluded by saying this event would not have been the success it was without the support of the event’s sponsors, runners and walkers, countless volunteers and her family.
