LIFT Wellness Center hosts New Year’s Day 5K
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JACKSON, Tenn. — LIFT Wellness Center hosted a New Year’s Day 5K Thursday to motivate runners in committing to a healthier lifestyle. Officials said about 70 people pre-registered for the race, but on the day of the race they saw more than 100 people lined up ready to go. This was their first New Year’s Day 5K, and proceeds went to the Christian nonprofit Regional Inter-faith Association. During the race, they collected more than two 50-gallon barrels of canned food for the organization. LIFT Wellness Center director Miki Martin said the race was named ‘LIFT Commitment Day 5K’ to focus on runners continuing to pursue their New Year’s resolutions past the first couple of months. “Everybody starts somewhere,” Martin said. “So you just start at what you can do and do the best you can with it. It’s really important that families get out and start instilling that in their children.” Sarah Shephardson, 11, ran in the 5K and said her family constantly supported her. Her mother, Linette, said Sarah started competing two years ago but that she’s ran before she could crawl. “She started running literally when she was seven months old, and she’s never stopped,” Shephardson said. Sarah said she doesn’t intend to stop. She wants to continue running in races that help others and beating her old times. “At first, I didn’t know if I was going to make it or not,” Sarah said after crossing the finish line. “Then I made it, and I was so happy to make it.” LIFT officials said because of the race’s success they’re hoping to make it an annual event.
