COLUMBUS, Ohio – RUNOHIO, the Arnold 5K and the Arnold Sports Festival have teamed up for a fund-raiser to benefit Chris Harmon, a 20-year-old weightlifter from Granville, Ohio, who was critically injured Feb. 22 when a 250-pound weight fell on his face.
RUNOHIO, which produces the Arnold 5K Pump & Run and the Arnold 5K Run, will donate 100 percent of all race-day registrations for this year’s Arnold 5K directly to the Chris Harmon Fund.
The Arnold 5K will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 7 at the corner of High and Goodale streets outside the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Race day registration is $35. Friends and relatives of Chris Harmon will staff registration tables and all race-day registration fees will be paid directly to the Chris Harmon Fund.
Chris’s sister, Sarah Harmon, was registered to participate in the Arnold 5K prior to her brother’s injury and plans to participate on Sunday.
Chris Harmon underwent a five-hour surgery at Grant Medical Center in Columbus to rebuild his right eye socket, the right side of his skull, jaw and both cheek bones, He has been taken off life support and his condition is improving, his father, Scott, told the Newark Advocate on Monday.
Only race-day registrations will benefit the Chris Harmon Fund, so those wishing to participate on behalf of the Chris Harmon Fund should wait until race day to register.
Race day registration will occur at the north end of the Greater Columbus Convention Center by Hall F between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The race day registration fee is $35 and includes a race t-shirt and free entry into the Arnold Fitness EXPO ($10 value). Race-day registration checks should be made to the Chris Harmon Fund.
An entry form found here can be filled out in advance of race day.
A “virtual 5K” will be offered to those who can not participate in the Arnold 5K on March 7. Whit’s Frozen Custard, 138 E. Broadway in Granville, Ohio, will accept entry forms and payment to the Chris Harmon Fund starting Wednesday, March 10. Participants will receive a ‘Benefitting Chris Harmon’ Arnold 5K race t-shirt. Participants should take an entry form and payment to the Chris Harmon Fund to Whit’s beginning March 10 to participate.
A fund has been set up and is available at any Chase Bank to help with medical expenses.
If you would like to mail a contribution to the Chris Harmon Fund please send it to Sarah Harmon, c/o Chris Harmon Fund, 1682 Lakeview Dr, Apt D, Newark, OH 43055
For information on the Arnold 5K, visit www.runohio.com or Arnold 5K page on the Arnold Sports Festival Web site.
For more information:
Matt McGowan
RUNOHIO
runohio@ee.net
Brent LaLonde
Arnold Sports Festival
brent@arnoldexpo.com
614-431-2600
Last modified: 2010-03-02 @ 12:00 am
