It was at last year’s Crime Stopper’s 5K, that the Arrowhead Ranch residents and staff were invited to participate.
In just one year’s time, the area’s well known residential treatment facility has put together quite the running program.
When they are not working on treatment work or are out doing community service, you can find most of the residents and even some of the staff running around the campus. Last year in addition to the Crime Stoppers 5K, Arrowhead participated in the Run for Viva 5K, The Hawk Hustle, the Lagomarcino’s Cocoa Beano 5K as well as the Race for the Cure this past June. As most of the residents are at Arrowhead for negative behavior, running is something productive and healthy that can be done when they return home. Helping teach the residents positive coping skills has always been on the top of this list for the staff at Arrowhead and anyone who has ran before would definitely agree that running is a great way to get rid of anger and stress.
For Justin, 16, a resident at Arrowhead, running wasn’t something he had done before but has a good message for those who are on the fence with trying it. “I would tell someone who doesn’t want to run or thinks it’s boring to at least try it,” said Justin. “Because, that’s what I thought and now I like it.”
For Jeremy Dorsey, a staff member at Arrowhead, the Crime Stoppers 5K was a first for him. “I really enjoyed my first run and want to improve on my time next race,” said Dorsey. “But most importantly, I want to show the kids that we work with that you can set a goal and achieve it.”
The next race up for Arrowhead will be the Run for Viva 5K in conjunction with the Viva Quad Cities Fiesta in September, but what the residents will definitely remember from the Crime Stoppers 5K is that it will be the first time that they were able to run from a police officer following behind them and actually get a pat on the back for it at the finish line.
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