2016 L.O.V.E. 5k Run Re-cap - Another HUGE Victory!!

Despite the rain, the 2016 L.O.V.E. 5k was once again a wonderful success thanks to all of you! We raised over $13,000 to be used to directly aid orphaned children, adoptive families and other missions that care for the orphaned and abandoned.  Highlights of the day include:

• 131 5k Race registrants!!!  THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT!! 

You can go HERE to find the complete race results as well as photos of the racers as they VICTORIOUSLY cross the finish line.  Choose the L.O.V.E. 5k (8/20/2016) from the EVENT drop down menu. Click "Race Pix" to see your finish line photo!  Gopher State Events is a Platinum sponsor and so generously provides our race timing.

• The overall WINNER of the race was Joseph Mahoney with an outstanding time of 17:29!  He said that he was honored to receive, along with his prize, the $100 OVERALL WINNER Award given in his honor to the Phillip LaVallee Memorial Scholarship.  It was fun to watch the battle to the finish as Anthony Peter was right on Joe's heels and came in 2nd with a spectacular time of 17:32!  Way to go guys!

 

• Another successful silent auction despite having to move it inside! - A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who donated and placed bids! 

• After the rain settled down during the kid races we were finally able to inflate the bounce house - a L.O.V.E. 5k staple!

• We were blessed with a visit from Sanborns (I see you under there, Kit!) and the Dixons. Both are LV 2015 grant families.  Look at their sweet little ones, orphans no more!

  

The Dixons told us that participating in the race was a HUGE accomplishment for their little guy and we are so proud of him!  Go buddy!  And Go big sisters!  You're both amazing!

  

• We weren't sure if our "Happy Birthday" to Laurencia and Valencia and annual pink balloon release would work but most of the balloons indeed sailed up to the sky as we celebrated their LIVES and Laurencia's message of L.O.V.E.! 

  

• We had many new friends join us as well as many who have been with us every year!  This year, the folks in Katrina's legal department volunteer committee decided the L.O.V.E. 5k would be one of the events to support and so many BSC friends showed up in a big way to participate by racing and volunteering.  THANK YOU BSC BUDDIES!

+ LV also provided a $500 donation toward the funeral expenses for a young boy, adopted from Eastern Europe, who had been home for some time with his family.  He had Down Syndrome and while he began his life neglected and all but completely abandoned in an orphanage in a hard place, he was thriving in his loving family and learned how to give and receive love before he passed away.  Please keep baby T and his family in your prayers.   In the interest of their privacy, they have asked not to have their names made public. +

What a tremendous blessing LV received when we were recently asked to be interviewed by The Catholic Spirit.  HERE is a link to the beautifully written article.  Our prayer is that many more people are reached so that they learn of the millions of children in need of loving care and that they consider joining us in our mission to aid the orphaned and abandoned in our Laurencia's memory. 

Matt and Katrina were also asked to do an on-air interview with Relevant Radio on Monday, March 13 at 7:45 AM.  They will be on the Morning Air® show live tomorrow morning!  Tune in to AM 1330 if you're in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area or listen live on their website. Say a prayer that God's message of the orphaned and abandoned will be given through their words.  Thank you!