This past Saturday was the running of the 2nd Annual Dash For Mat's Bash. It's a fund raising event to raise money for scholarships for Wellsville students. The scholarships are in memory of Mathugh Johnston who was a victim of leukemia at the age of 15. Mathugh was a boy from the 'ville, the son of Julie & Dewey Johnston. He would have been a senior this year. This year the event was dedicated to the memory of Lindsey Salsberry too. Last year two scholarships were awarded and that is the goal for coming years.
We're not sure who originally came up with the idea but Wellsville resident Tim Long along with his better half, Annie, seems to spearhead the Bash. They get the whole family involved including cousins, siblings, aunts & uncles. They even get the folks from the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department to lend a hand.
Last year's Bash had 270 to register. This year the response was nearly overwhelming with 436. This year prayers & well wishes also went out to young Gannon Lively, a 10 year old lad who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. His fellow team mates & the cheer leaders from his Jr. Tiger football team were rushed from their just completed game to be part in this year's race. They even ran two races in support of Gannon after winning their game.
New to this year's Bash was the Fireman's Nozzle Relay race with firemen running in full fall-out gear just for the bragging rights. Three teams entered. There was the Wellsville volunteers, folks from Highlandtown and a team from Benwood, WV. Benwood won it with the Highlandtown fellows coming in second. In a display of unity they all gathered a block up the street to escort the last guy that finished. The Wellsville Elks passed out bottles of water to participants who passed by the lodge. Then they invited everyone to stop back for a bite to eat afterwards.
Coming in first in the race was Megan Monte & Jeffrey Hanselman. They took the first place metals but everyone was a winner. It didn't matter what position you finished.
We would like to congratulate everyone that took part and add our thanks to the sponsors and all those that pitched in. In our opinion it made the Wellsville shine and another reason that this little river village is truly some place special.
Everybody was a winner...
ole nib
6 comments:
Looks like a great turnout. Wish I could have made the event prior commitments kept me away. Looks like it will be bigger every year. Great work by the Longs and anyone else involved. These types of things are what makes me proud to be from Wellsville. A town small enough that we all know each other yet with a huge heart. I look at these picture with a tear in my eye....
A shout out to all the good people of Wellsville The Longs, The Shepherds, and so on to many to thank here.
please post anyone you think makes a contribution the greater good of Wellsville... Ole Nib you keeping everyone up on Wellsville near and far... You are doing work for the greater good of Wellsville. Thanks.
I appreciate all the help from the Village PD, Kevin Fullerton (viallge road dept) And the VFD. Cannot say how much I appreciate the time and effort they all put in.
I just hope everyone had a good time and take some pride in knowing in 2 years we have become one of if not the largest race in the county. I hope we just keep getting bigger as the years go.
Things got real hectic this year with over 100 last minute registries and waiting for the boys and girls to arrive from the field.
Thank you to all the sponsors of the Dash this year, OVCT, Walmart, Randy's Raisings, Wing Street, Lowe's, Undo's, TNT, Jim's Service Station, Johnston's Autobody, Curves, Mathugh Johnston's Golf Outing,Robert Funeral Home, Dalonzo's, The Boat Doctor, Masonic Lodge, Center Pharmacy, Looking out my Window, Wee the People, Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine, Kent State University, Linda Nicholson, CIN-Liss Tanning, Gibby's, Hanselman's, Salsberry's.
Congrats to all the participants and special congrats to the overall winners Jeff and Megan.. Look forward to seeing everyone again next year.
Oh and a side note we made $828.00 for Gannon in a 5 minute window. It did however frighten me how badly people like to watch me suffer to pay that much to watch me run in that air bottle. I think my wife was bribing people.
Tim & Annie
Tim & Annie - A super special thanks go out to you and Annie. We can't imagine the hours you two put into organizing this event. It takes a special type of person to undertake a fund raiser like this without regards to themselves. It takes a special community to open up their arms to willingly support the scholarships as we have seen the past two years in the ville. Wellsville is grateful to be home to both.
One might say the students getting the Mathugh Johnston Memorial scholarships are the winners but the boost in the pride Wellsville enjoys is priceless. You two are part of what makes the ville truly some place special.
Congratulations on another very successful Bash.
nib
you thanked Ol Nib but not the MJ for its nice coverage & pictures, including one of my daughter
Who's your daughter?
It should be noted that the MJ did cover this with Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert reporting and both her & Patti Schaffer taking pictures. It ended in two or three days coverage in the newspapers.
We sure the oversight was purely unintentional.
Thanks folks...
nib
I'm so sorry I did miss Jo and the morning Journal, I have to go back and check but I think I missed them on facebook as well. I also missed the Wellsville Cheerleaders. Thanks for pointing them out. I know I have missed more and I always do but thanks for pointing out Jo and I think Patty was the photographer. I really don't get talk to everyone the way I wish I could on that evening. CU covered the race with some incredible pictures. Thanks and I think the nyquil and alka seltzer must have been working overtime.
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