Southwest Arkansas Radio Radio Stations KMTB, KNAS and KBHC in Nashville, Arkansas
Nonprofit Race in Horatio, Arkansas March 30, 2019
[Horatio, AR 3/30/19] Today’s race was a special one for both race director Brooke Toye and Ainsley’s Angels of Southwest Arkansas. The Andrew Shane Griffin Memorial 5k (ASG) held its inaugural race to benefit a scholarship fund in honor of Andrew Griffin, a former student at Horatio High School, and Brooke’s brother, who passed away in 2017. Andrew and Brooke’s aunt, Ginger Griffin, also wanted to participate in the 5k in memory of her nephew. The only stumbling block: Ginger Griffin needed racing equipment to accommodate her lower lumbar paralysis.
Toye contacted Ainsley’s Angels after seeing them participate in their first 5k in Southwest Arkansas, The Never Give Up 5k on February 23, 2019. Andrew Griffin’s birthday was also February 23rd. Toye told the AInsley’s Angels South West Arkansas Ambassador, Tessa Dean, “It just seemed right, that I would find out about you guys on Drew’s birthday, and now my Aunt Ginger can do his 5k.”
Ainsley’s Angels is a nonprofit organization that provides the free use of athletic equipment so that athletes of all abilities can participate in races across the country. Their mission, however, goes beyond athletics. According to the new South West Arkansas Ambassador-in-Training, Tessa Dean, “Ainsley’s Angels want to spread the joy of inclusion. We educate and advocate for the special needs community to have a place in the community at large. Everyone deserves to belong and to be part of events with their neighbors.”
On March 30th, Ginger Griffin rolled with her Ainsley’s Angels teammates- five Angel Athlete Riders pushed by 15 Angel Runners. Team Ginger was pushed by her longtime friend, Angel Runner Tracy Stancil, who was assisted on the hilly and wet course by Angel Runner Jason Barker. Throughout the race in her Axiom Racing Chair, she held a framed picture of Drew Griffin.
While Ainsley’s Angels is about working together and not competition, Barker and Stancil managed to push Team Ginger across the finish line to win first place female in her age group of the Andrew Shane Griffin Memorial Scholarship 5k. (Andrew Griffin’s fourteen year old cousin, Mykenzie Jones, took first place female overall.) After the race, Ginger posted to Facebook: “It was so good to be apart of my first 5k, for my nephew Andrew Shane Griffin! Brooke did a great job putting this together! Ainsley’s Angels were so much help, thanks for the chair and the legs behind me: my good friend Tracy Stancil and Jason Barker! Thank y’all so much and everyone else for your love and support!”
The SW-Ark Ambassador added: “You do not have to be fast to be an Angel Runner, and you do not have to be related to anyone to be an Angel Rider. These are the legs and hearts of AInsley’s Angels, and you just need to have the desire to see everyone doing things together in the community to be part of our family. Our athletes always roll free in races and always get medals, but the real reward is in the smiles and joy of inclusion.”
Sign-up to be an Ainsley’s Angel runner, Angel athlete rider, or Guardian Angel volunteer (it’s free) at www.ainsleysangels.org or follow them on Facebook: Ainsley’s Angels in Arkansas. Contact Tessa Dean about racing chair sponsorships or upcoming races that Ainsley’s Angels in Southwest Arkansas will be participating in at swarkansas@ainsleysangels.org.
