The third annual Splash and Shiver for Blue River was held on Saturday, March 24th.  Temperatures were a little on the cool side as Buffalo Trace Park hosted the event – starting with the addition of a 1 mile walk and a 5k run and leading up to 20 participants who took “The Dash to Raise Cold Cash.”  The event opened with prayer led by Edith Bleecker of Lanesville United Methodist Church and the singing of the National Anthem by Jim Aich.

At 9:00 am, the starting  lines were filled with 51 participants who set out to complete the one mile walk around the lake and 24 runners taking on the beautiful 5K run course.  Blue River Services would like to send special thanks out to Joe Kellum and Lynn Whittaker for helping to organize the walk/run in its first year.  Director of Community Relations and Fund Development, Evelyn McPherson said the addition of the run/walk was “a good way to get more people from the community involved in the fundraising event.”  She added that “several runners said it was a good race course and would be back next year.”  Awards were given for finishing times as well as funds raised.  In the 5K run female division the first place finisher was DeDe Wohlfarth of Crandall with a time of 25:32.  In the 5K run male division, the first place finisher was David Sowder of Pekin with a time of 20:42.  In the one mile walk, the most money raised by an individual was $105 from Annalea Miller of Corydon.  Bailey’s Buddies from Salem raised the most money as a team coming in at $230.  In its first year, the run/walk on a brisk morning, in a beautiful setting proved to be a successful addition.
And then the “Dash to Raise Cold Cash”.  At 10:30 am twenty participants made the dash down the sandy bank into reasonably warm waters at an official temperature (special thanks to the Indiana State Police Dive Team) of 70’.  Some even made the dash in costume as the best costume award went to Gary Reed of the New Salisbury Lions Club dressed head to toe as a leprechaun complete with gold coin “Dash for Cold Cash” gold coin bucket.  The most money raised by an individual for the dash was Jacob McClanahan with a whopping $400 raised.  Jacob also placed second in the men’s 5K run so he had a busy morning as well as great fundraising efforts.  The most money raised by a team for the Dash was the Crandall Lions Club submitting $500.  The most money raised by a company was $1471 taken in by Cylicron and the President of Cylicron, Michael Roberts.. 
Per the Blue River Services website (www.brsinc.org), the organization was founded in 1959 with the goal of meeting community needs to “address barriers to independence for people with and without disabilities.”  Fundraising efforts provide a hedge against challenging economic times and give the organization the ability to continue to serve the Southern Indiana area.  Some 20,000 individuals were served by Blue River Services in 2011 in the areas of family services, employment services, transportation services, residential, youth, childcare, and many others (also per Blue River Services website).
Director of Community Relations and Fund Development, Evelyn McPherson would also “like to thank Boy Scout Troop 412 of Corydon, HERO, volunteers from Horseshoe Casino, Palmyra VFD, and several individuals from the community that we can always count on to volunteer at our fundraising events.”  Blue River Services also had many employees participate in the events and raise funds as teams.  The most money raised by a Blue River Services team was Community Resources with a total of $727, participating in the one mile walk.  And the most money raised for the Splash and Shiver was the Employment Services team coming in at $135.  Blue River’s largest fundraising event, the 10th annual BRS Golf Scramble will be held on August 17, 2012 at the Old Capitol Golf Club in Corydon.