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Across the country, races are often set up to benefit local causes and charities. 

The citizens of Winchester got together on the morning of Saturday, May 19, to support such causes. 

Two events – the 5K Run for the Paws and the Joe Reed Memorial Heart Walk – occurred. 

The first, Run for the Paws, began at approximately 8:15 a.m. and has been hosted in Winchester for several years. 

While encouraging healthy activity, the event also helps raise financial support for the Clark County Animal Shelter. 

Revenue generated for the event has helped CCAS. 

“Everything that comes in from the registrations and sponsorships and all that goes to the shelter helps us just be able to provide for the animals in our care,” said Clark County Animal Shelter Director Addie Wills. “I’m sure that we’ll be just using it for some food and general supplies…but there are lots of things that we try to do to enrich the dog’s lives while they stay with us.” 

Saturday morning’s event featured not only individuals running but also a variety of dogs of different breeds. 

“The track goes around the perimeter of Lykins [Park], and you do that twice, and you’ll finish here in the parking lot,” said Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Assistant Programs Director Tiffany Fletcher. “There’s…dog treats and kiddie pools for the puppies.” 

“I’m excited to have all these people come out to our park and be able to help support the animal shelter and then come together as a community to support one local cause,” said April Stanfield, Program Director at WCCPR. 

WCCPR was one of many sponsors for the event. At the same time, different businesses—including Devil Dog Fitness—were also present to provide support. 

Just a short time later, another event took place in Winchester. 

People gathered In the parking lot just outside Clark Regional Medical Center for the 2024 Joe Reed Memorial Heart Walk. 

“Today’s event here at the hospital [is] Clark Regional’s effort to work with the American Heart [Association] [and] UK for all things heart care,” said Matt Smith, CEO of Clark Regional Medical Center. “We have a couple of patients that are going to speak today, and then [we’d] be remiss if we didn’t talk about Mr. Reed and what this does [for] the community.” 

Energetic and welcoming music played outdoors. Check-in began at 9:00 a.m., and the walk began at 9:30. 

In the interim, those attending had ample time to gather information from the event’s many sponsors and partners with CRMC, including the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute. 

Just before the one-mile walk and after singing the national anthem, Wendy Zuber spoke alongside her husband, Dan. 

She told the story of how Dan, a basketball coach in Woodford County, was sent to Clark Regional Medical Center after feeling ill while coaching a game in Clark County. 

“It was clear that something was wrong, and the Clark Regional medical team was relentless in identifying the cause of the [heart] pain and continuing dropping blood pressure,” Wendy Zuber said. “A CT scan quickly showed the problem, and Dan was immediately airlifted to UK HealthCare.” 

It was discovered that Dan Zuber was experiencing an aortic dissection, which is typically fatal if left untreated. 

“Dan was blessed to have a 14-hour-long surgery that saved his life,” Wendy Zuber added. “Without the quick actions of parents at the basketball game, the response of local EMS teams, the response of local doctors and nurses, and the treatment options available today, I would not be standing here with him.” 

Wendy Zuber also added that cardiac awareness helped her awareness as she encountered her challenges sometime later that required medical attention. 

Following Zuber’s speech, Mayor JoEllen Reed – whose father is the namesake of the memorial walk – spoke. 

Coincidentally, the event fell on the Mayor’s birthday. 

Though her father did not officially die of a heart attack, she told the story of how he had one at a time when she was teaching. 

Mayor Reed also expressed her hope for the community. 

“As your mayor, I wish for this community to be heart healthy and heart strong and to share that with many others every day of your life,” she said. “I thank God from the bottom of my heart that we have this building behind us…[that] has turned around so many lives over the years.” 

After Mayor Reed spoke, the one-mile walk around Clark Regional Medical Center began, with some opting to take the walk more than once.