2 finish lines for 1 good cause

The sun was shining Saturday morning and the temperature warmed up enough to make it a pleasant day for a run or to walk the dog — or do both, for charity.

More than 150 participants did just that in the Franklin County Humane Society’s Paws for Life 5K run and one-mile dog walk, held at the Wake Forest College Birthplace on North Main Street in Wake Forest.

Friday’s cold temperatures and continuous rainfall had organizers concerned their second annual event would face a low turnout. But aside from a stiff wind that provided a continually cool breeze, the day was all they could ask for. And so was the crowd.

Organizers had 100 participants pre-register, but 93 runners and 60 dog walkers arrived for the 10 a.m. start.

Jarett Prady beat out Trevorr Lewis, both of Raleigh, for first place overall and the top men’s time of 17 minutes, 45 seconds. Lewis followed behind by 13 seconds, finishing in 17:58. William Dowbiggin finished in third place with a 20:11 time.

Ann Sevareid Miller of Durham finished 16 seconds ahead of Wake Forest’s Julie Wragge, to win the women’s race in 23 minutes, 39 seconds. Wragge ran a 23:55 race. Clayton resident Chrissan Dalton made the trip to run a 24:54 time and take home a third-place trophy.

First-place awards were handed out in 17 other age or gender categories.

Ida Estep, President of the FC Humane Society, said she expected the event to raise approximately the same amount the group collected with its inaugural race last year, about $10,000.

Estep said the proceeds will be split between costs to make spay and neuter programs available throughout the county, and savings to go toward building a new animal shelter.

The FC Humane Society has been an active participant in Franklin County’s discussions to improve animal services over the past year and a half.

Estep and Brenda Simmons are members of the county’s animal shelter committee, which found an architect to present a design for a new shelter to Franklin County Commissioners.

The county board members have already approved spending $22,000 for architect Walter Vick of LSV Partnerships to provide a shelter-design schematic and blueprints.

The FC Humane Society has received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation and has agreed to partner with the county to build a fund for the shelter’s construction.

The Humane Society members have been involved in cat and dog rescue from the animal shelter for more than four years.

On Saturday, Humane Society volunteers assisted in marking the runners’ course from the Birthplace to Wake Forest-Rolesville High School and back and the dog-walkers’ path along Main Street.

The organizers also received help from volunteer groups from PetSmart, Starbucks, the WF-R JROTC, K-9 Acclaim and Absolute Body.

For more information on the FC Humane Society, call 919-990-1045 or visit the web site www.fchsnc.org.