Community Corner
Fire Department Wins 'Guns & Hoses' Race
The annual race organized by the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency raises funds for local charities.
Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services won the ninth annual Guns & Hoses 5K Run/Walk and Fun Run, a friendly competition between the agency and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office to raise funds for local charities.
Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services had the most runners to sign up for the event, Cherokee fire said in its press release.
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Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office solicited registrations from runners to raise money for charity. The event was open to the public and runners were asked to pick the team they wanted to run for, Guns for the sheriff’s office or Hoses for the fire department, and part of their registration fee was donated to an area charity.
The fire department donated its winnings to the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch while the sheriff’s office donated funds to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Foundation.
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The purpose Goshen Valley Boys Ranch is to provide hope and a family-model home for boys who do not have either while the foundation provides funding for charities and people in need in Cherokee County.
According to Kate Borden with Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency, 360 runners signed up for the fire department while 269 registered to represent the sheriff’s office. The Goshen Valley Boys Ranch will receive a check for $3,600 and $2,690 will be donated to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Foundation.
Sam Harp, 18, the top male winner of the 5K race and member of the Hoses team, finished the race with a time of 17:17, beating his time last year by 50 seconds, Cherokee Fire said. Sydney Runyan, 13, was the top female winner of the race, completing the course in 20:01. More race results can be viewed online.
This is the fourth consecutive year Harp has finished first among the men. Harp is the son of Cheri and Lyle Harp, who is a firefighter with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services.
Photo 1: Firefighter John Carroll, right. ran the race in his turnout gear.
Photo 2: Sam Harp crosses the finish line
Photo 3: Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson, left, with Goshen Valley Boys Ranch Executive Director Zach Blend.
Credits: Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services
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