Race pays tribute to Bricelyn resident

Published 1:57 am Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Family members of Ron Sander participated in the Ron Sander Memorial Run on July 6, 2014. From left are Kim Gormley, Sander’s daughter; Kristin Bullerman, Sander’s daughter; Glorian Sander, Sander’s wife; Nicole Kapplinger, Sander’s daughter; and Doug Sander, Sander’s son. — Provided

Family members of Ron Sander participated in the Ron Sander Memorial Run on July 6, 2014. From left are Kim Gormley, Sander’s daughter; Kristin Bullerman, Sander’s daughter; Glorian Sander, Sander’s wife; Nicole Kapplinger, Sander’s daughter; and Doug Sander, Sander’s son. — Provided

The legacy of a Bricelyn resident lives on through a series of races on the Fourth of July.

A 5K run, one-mile fitness walk and kids’ one-mile run will comprise the third annual Ron Sander Memorial Run.

Event organizer and daughter of Sander, Kristin Bullerman, said Sander had five children and made time to attend their games.

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“All of us kids played sports, and he never missed an event,” she said. “It’s a great way to honor him and support the community that he was very active in.”

Four years ago, the race was the Bricelyn Chicken Run, but the name was changed to honor Sander, who lived from Sept. 15, 1940, to July 6, 2012. Sander was a bank examiner for the state of Minnesota and moved with his family in 1975 to Bricelyn, where he was president of State Bank of Bricelyn.

Bullerman said proceeds from the event will go to the Bricelyn Community Club, a group that funds projects for the city. Last year, funds went toward improvements at the town’s swimming pool. The community club also put a new roof on the picnic shelter at the city park, Bullerman said.

Registration for all three races will be in front of Farmers Trust & Savings Bank at 8 a.m. Saturday at 219 N. Main St. in Bricelyn.

The one-mile fitness walk and kids’ one-mile run for ages 12 and under will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Registration for the fitness walk is $20, and the kids’ run is $10. The 5K run will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, and registration will cost $20.

Bullerman said the course will be flat and run on asphalt.

Although the 5K won’t be chip-timed, Bullerman said runners will be timed manually.

Each participant will receive a T-shirt, and each participant in the kids’ one-mile run will also receive a medal, Bullerman said.

After the races, water, bananas and granola bars will be available.