Dancing, walking, running fill the streets of tight-knit town

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The streets of Russiaville were filled with walkers, runners, and dancers on April 12 for a variety of reasons. But foremost among them was to have fun while supporting good causes.

A spirited group of bookworms with a desire to boogey gathered at the Kokomo Howard County Public Library branch, while a second group congregated at the Russiaville Lions Club. And at 8:30 a.m. on the dot, the gaggles began to get down, giggle, and glide across town, meeting each other midway through the procession.

The Dance Across Russiaville event was held to celebrate National Library Month, and it was just one of a wide variety of events offered almost daily by KHCPL.

The end of the dance was not the end of the festivities, however. Many of the dancers put on their walking and running shoes and signed up to participate in the annual Gene Parks 5K Fun Run and 1-Mile Walk.

Of course, no one wants to exercise without the benefit of a hearty breakfast. Thankfully, Scouting Troop 619 was on hand to cook up pancakes, breakfast casserole, and more at the Lions Club. The hall hosted a bustling crowd right up until the begin of the races, generously donating to help send the scouts to an adventure camp in Key West, Fla.

The walk went first, and dozens lined up to stroll their way to the nearby Jeff Stout Community Center. Participants raised money for Ainsley’s Angels with their registration fees.

An hour later, the 5K took place, led by the bright pink Ainsley’s Angels riders and runners. The run is a fundraiser for the Carl Koontz Memorial Scholarship, again, funded through registration fees.

While the 5K was timed, and top finishers were recognized, the real winners were the charities, the scouts, the library, and all the participants as Russiaville showed off its heart.

See additional photos and videos from these events on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.