'Guns & Hoses' Raises Over $2,000 for CASA Cherokee

Over 500 runners participated in the annual Guns & Hoses 5K, which brought in over $2,000 for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Cherokee.

According to Neely Motiejunas, recreation division director with Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency, 243 runners signed up to support Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services and another 271 signed up to support the Cherokee Sheriff's Office. 

Their efforts garnered CASA Cherokee $2,680.

Both public safety agencies solicited runners to participate in the race, which was held last Saturday at Hobgood Park. The race was sponsored by the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency.  

The fire department and sheriff’s office this year chose to donate the proceeds from the race to CASA Cherokee.

The organization is made up of volunteers appointed by judges and are trained to oversee the welfare of neglected and abused children.

Sam Harp, who signed up to support the fire department, was the overall male winner in the 5K and finished with a time of 18:13, which was 12 seconds faster than the time he finished the race last year. 

The overall female winner was Sydney Runyan, 11, who also ran for the fire department. She crossed the finish line at 20:56, a mere one second faster than her time last year.