Run for the Cookies (And For Sherry) on February 11

On Saturday, February 11, Wayne Kevin and I will be running in the annual “Run for the Cookies” 5k (me) and 1 mile (him). In addition to our official “cookies” race bibs, we will also be wearing this bib on our shirts:

Sherry Arnold was a runner from Sidney, Montana, who was abducted early on the morning of January 7, 2012, and murdered. Two men are in custody, for this crime (her body has not been recovered). For more facts about the case, visit this link:

This case has resonated with me for so many reasons, including the fact that Sherry was a mom, wife, and runner. I can’t change the outcome but I can do my part as a member of the running community to tangibly show my support.

Sherry’s cousin, Beth, of Shut Up + Run, has created a virtual run as a way to show Sherry’s family the support of runners (and anyone willing to move) from all over the world. The plan is to do this on February 11. And it’s simple: run, walk, crawl, row, bike …. whatever ….. a 5K (3.1 miles) while wearing Sherry’s bib. Here is Beth’s original post explaining this event.

This is simply a support/awareness run. However, there is a way to donate toward a fund for Sherry’s children here via the “donate” button.

If you participate in the virtual run, Beth is encouraging you to submit pictures that she can share with Sherry’s family (see a few of the early birds here). If you choose to do your own post about this (great idea, dontcha think??!!), please send the link to Beth so she can share it with the family also. Her email address is beth@shutupandrun.net.

To recap the instructions for participating in the virtual run on February 11:

Print out the bib:

A pdf is available here: http://www.races2remember.com/images/previews/Sherry.pdf

Then: 

• Mark your calendars
• Print out a running bib and pin it to your shirt
• Gather your friends, your running club members, your families
• If it’s wet where you are, “laminate” your bib with postage tape and punch holes in it
• If that time doesn’t work, go when you can (the official time for the run is 9 a.m. M.S.T.)
• GO. Run as far and as long as you want. Walk, hike, cycle, rollerblade if you don’t want to or can’t run.
• Please share this on your blogs, Facebooks and Twitters
• Keep it simple. Just run with Sherry on your minds and hearts.
• You can also connect with this event on Facebook

Let’s show Sherry’s husband, Gary, and Children Holly and Jason that they are not alone.

Paula Kiger

Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.