By SHAWN RINE WHEELING — Like everyone else, Ron Green finds it hard to believe. What started out as a way to honor his late sister, Debbie, has turned into something even Green couldn’t have imagined. At 7 p.m. on Saturday, the Debbie Green Memorial 5K Run/Walk for Leukemia will go off ...
By KYLE LUTZ WHEELING — Every year, the Debbie Green Mile run kicks off the annual event and is dedicated to a special person or group of people that have touched many lives in the Ohio Valley. This year, the opening race will be dedicated to Abby Frohnapfel. “I think what Ron (Green) does for childhood cancer is amazing,” Abbey’s mother, Brenda Frohnapfel, said. “I think the fact he thought to honor my daughter is a wonderful thing to have your child remembered. I think it’s awesome.” Frohnapfel was not just your typical high school student. Frohnapfel always had a ...
By SHAWN RINE WHEELING — It was something that Ron Green heard consistently. Often when he would ask folks he knew — and some he didn’t — if they would be interested in running his race, the Debbie Green 5K Run/Walk for Leukemia, Green was told ‘I’d like to, but I don’t have anything to do with my kids.’ Thus, ‘Debbie’s Dash’ was born. ‘‘Now you can run the race if you have kids,’’ Green said. ‘‘Bring them down ... it’s a very small fee ($3). ‘‘We keep the fee there so kids can understand what it’s like to give, whether it’s to somebody ...
By KYLE LUTZ WHEELING — Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal has been sponsoring events around the Ohio Valley for many years. The Debbie Green Memorial 5K Run/Walk for Leukemia is next on its list. Kalkreuth, however, for the past three years, has been the title sponsor for the annual event that is going into its 20th year. Being part of the Debbie Green 5K is exciting because it’s such a well-respected and well-run event in Wheeling,î Kalkreuth marketing director Paul Orbin said. It’s exciting to be a part of it. I think with this going on 20 years goes to show how well-run of ...
By SHAWN RINE WHEELING — One of the difficulties with running an event as long as Ron Green has, is keeping it fresh so that veteran participants keep coming back and news ones want to join. When you reach 20 years, as the Debbie Green 5K Run/Walk for Leukemia will this year, the task of revamping becomes exponentially more difficult, ‘‘That has always been a challenge for me,’’ Green said. ‘‘Every year we’re thinking of something different. Not every year the (entry) numbers go up ... they fluctuate. ‘‘There has been a recent downturn in road racing — ...
By RICK THORP WHEELING — Another crop of elite talent is in line to grace the streets of downtown Wheeling on Saturday evening when the Debbie Green Memorial 5K Run/Walk for Leukemia steps off for the 20th time. Race Director Ron Green said Friday a steady stream of entrants continue to register daily for the summer road racing staple, which has turned into a two-day event in recent years. ‘‘Numbers are up from last year,’’ Green said. ‘‘That’s a good thing. We’ll continue to have a steady flow of entrants up until race day.’’ Action begins Friday evening at ...
