Lions Club mascot K.C. Clement was at the race finish line to greet runners and hand out awards.
The Haddonfield Lions Club hosted its annual 5K Run for Vision on Oct. 4 in Maria Barnaby Greenwald Memorial Park.
The run – in its fifth year – both started and finished on the park’s softball field. Proceeds from donations, sponsorships and race fees support area charities that benefit the blind and visually impaired, as well as those facing hunger, diabetes and other causes that impact health.
“This is our 5K for vision, and that’s what the purpose ends up being for,” said Greg Peltz, president of the Lions Club. “So we can end up helping out for other projects that we’re going to be doing for the course of the year.”
This year’s 5K was larger than past runs, with a significant increase in the number of sponsors compared with last year.
“It was a wonderful thing,” Peltz noted. “We had lots of great sponsors. We doubled in our size of sponsorships, which will help us for the course of the year.”
Lions Club mascot K.C. Clement was on hand for the race, stationed at the finish line to greet runners. Dressed in his usual lion mask and wearing glasses and gloves to mimic lion paws, he started his day in the park lot directing cars, then took selfies with fans and visitors.
“I get cars honking and everything, and kids coming up to me,” he related. “I’m getting a lot of selfies and it’s been great … “
Prizes for race winners included trophies and gift certificates to Mecha Chocolates, William Heritage Winery, Warby Parker and Verona Restaurante. Child winners got certificates to Ylvia Asal of Anatolia Craft.
Hannah Baker, a Haddon Heights resident who frequently runs in her own neighborhood, was the first overall female winner.
“I live in Haddon Heights, so I saw signs for it, just in people’s yards and stuff,” she said, “just running around the neighborhood.”
Borough Commissioner Itir Cole was one of the runners.
“It felt hard to start, but it happens every time … once it wraps up, I have the runner’s high,” she acknowledged. “So then I sign up for the next race … It’s a wonderful way to support local organizations like Haddonfield Lions Club, and the money that they raised goes to a really good organization and a really good cause.
“And I tried to loop in as many friends as I can to do it.”
Joseph Chatnik was the second overall male winner.
“It was great weather for it,” he said. “The course itself was really well laid out, mostly gravel and dirt, so it was a really good impact on your legs. Overall, a fantastic time.”
