Record amount raised from participants, sponsors
COLUMBIA, Tenn. — A total of 700 runners and walkers participated in the 2024 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot, presented by First Farmers Bank, at Riverwalk Park on Saturday, April 6, raising a record $64,344 for the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation thanks to contributions from racers and local sponsors.
Proceeds from the Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot help to support Maury Regional Health’s mobile medical unit, which serves at-risk and uninsured patients throughout the region and has touched the lives of thousands of individuals since 2017. Proceeds also support the Foundation’s Wellness and Aquatics Center Healthy Living Endowment, the city of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department and the physical education program at Brown Elementary, the area school with the most race participants.
“This year, the Foundation’s annual Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot topped our fundraising record once again,” said Maury Regional Health CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “This would not be possible without the generosity of our community and the outstanding efforts of Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore, Development Specialist Courtney Lewandowski and Department Support Coordinator Leah Henry. I would like to thank presenting sponsor First Farmers Bank and all of our sponsors, runners, walkers and volunteers who make this event possible. The funds raised from this event will support at-risk and underserved populations through services like the Maury Regional Mobile Medical Unit.”
David Hudson had the fastest run of the day in the 5K, finishing first overall in 18:34, while Sienna Anderson was first overall for the women with a time of 19:29. In the master category, Ethan Kreul was first for the men in 19:10, and Andrea Rich finished in 23:42 to lead the women. David Craig and Carol Mosher went home winners in the super grand master category, finishing respectively in 29:37 and 34:50.
The top three female finishers in the 1-Mile Trot included Hannah Tucker, Kenzie Calabrese and Emersyn Teele, while the top three male finishers were Ezekiel Stewart, Axel Spare and Dean Turner.
A full overview of all the winners from the male and female age group categories is available at runsignup.com/MuleKick5K, where all 5K racers can also view their individual times and download their finisher certificates. Photos from the 2024 event will soon be available at Facebook.com/MuleKick5K.
First Farmers Bank served as the presenting sponsor for the 2024 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot. Champion sponsors included Maury Regional Physical Therapy, City of Columbia, Farm Bureau Health Plans of Tennessee, Harmon Scrap Metal and Impressions Winning Moves. The finish line sponsor was Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance Columbia with Brown & Maquire CPAs serving as the hydration sponsor. Sprinter sponsors included C&B Linen, Columbia Power & Water Systems, Encompass Rehab Hospital, Listerhill Credit Union, McDonald’s of Maury County, Maury Regional Medical Group, Muletown Rec, Roto-Rooter Plumbing, Tenn Pin Alley, United Community Bank and WireMasters. Trainer sponsors were Advance Financial Solutions, Learning Zone of Sprint Hill, Maury County Visitors Bureau and Stan McNabb Chevrolet Cadillac of Columbia. Patron sponsors included Columbia Pediatrics, Davis Heating & Cooling, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Fast Stop Markets, Jones and Lang, Muletown Pediatric Dentistry, OMSNashville, Smelter Service Corporation, Southern Radiology Associates and United Communications. Warm-up sponsors included Beck Dental Care of Columbia, Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill, A Balloon Shop and CopyCats Print Services.
To learn more about the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation or to make a gift to the mobile medical unit, visit MauryRegional.com/Foundation. For information about sponsoring the 2025 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot, email MRHFoundation@MauryRegional.com or call 931.380.4075.