After more than two months’ worth of planning and media attention, two teachers in Vermilion County raced in a charity run for their respective schools Saturday morning.
John Lubinski of Potomac Grade School and Wade Rogers of Armstrong-Ellis Grade School ran a marathon-style race through eastern Champaign County and western Vermilion County, running through Armstrong and finishing in Potomac. Lubinski was the only one to run the entire course, with Rogers joining about nine miles in, but there was a good reason for that…Rogers’ new daughter was born premature earlier in the week.
“I’ve been stuck in a hospital room all week, but John was gracious enough to pick up and help things here, and allow me just to show up and run,” Rogers explained. “I can’t thank John enough for that.”
Lubinski started the race near his home in St. Joseph and also went through Royal. He says they were lucky to have good weather for the event, although the strong winds made the race a bit of a challenge.
“There were parts where I didn’t think we were going to be able to finish because it was hurting, but we kept telling ourselves it was for our kids, and so we got it done,” Lubinski said.
The event included a corn hole tournament in the parking lot of the Potomac Grade School where both kids and adults participated. Principal Candace Freeman said all of the money that was raised from the event would be split evenly between the two men for their physical education classes, allowing them to purchase equipment and other materials.
