The Hopkinsville Police Department’s Thin Blue Run concluded at Valor Hall Conference and Event Center in Oak Grove Wednesday afternoon, where a $16,745 donation was presented to Sanctuary, Inc. and the Pennyrile Children’s Advocacy Center.
The idea for the run, sprouted during a conversation between Police Chief Jason Newby and Officer Cory Smith. Newby says Smith had the idea to do a long run and was considering running from the Madisonville Police Department to the local department.
However, Newby thought that if they were going to run that far then they should attach a cause to the endeavor. Since April marks Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month they decided to benefit local organizations that support those efforts.
The run started at around 7 a.m. in north Christian County and officers crossed the finish line at Valor Hall at around 2:30 p.m. The entire run was 34 miles long.
Sanctuary is a Christian County-based nonprofit that provides support and resources to empower survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across the Pennyrile Region. Then, the Pennyrile Children’s Advocacy Center provides services to children who have experienced sexual and physical abuse.
Heather Lancaster, the Executive Director of Sanctuary and PCAC Associate Director Clara Butler thanked the officers for supporting the work of their organizations. Lancaster also expressed appreciation to the department for often times being the first agency to assist victims of abuse.
Along with Newby and Smith, officers Jace Baxter, Jesse Bufford, Jamal Howard, William Flood, Danielle O’Hara and Jaritt Beasley were some of the others who ran parts of the course. Newby says they plan to make the run a yearly event.
