Putnam Aging staff members dressed up for the Wookie Wobble 5K. Shown above are Karen Johnson, OAA Director; Jenni Sutherland, Executive Director, and Karen Carter; HR Director.

Putnam Aging got into the Star Wars spirit this last Sunday when the organization held its first ever 5K fundraiser at Valley Park in Hurricane. Due to the popularity of the forty-eight-year-old science fiction franchise, May 4 has become an unofficial holiday for fans because of the date’s similar sound to the in-universe benediction, “May the Force be with you.” Since the day chosen for Putnam Aging’s 5K fundraiser fell upon May 4 this year, the event planners decided to go with a Star Wars theme, encouraging participants to dress up for Wookie Wobble 5K.

Sixty-six people participated in the event, with the top male winners being Neil Johnson, Shane Badger, Jimmy Cunningham, Chris Griffith, and Cole Stevens, and the top female winners being Sophia Newell, Heather Rogers, Kambry Risner, Mandy Griffith, and Reagan Wilton. An awards ceremony and special lunch followed the event.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards Putnam Aging’s nutrition program, which feeds 300 seniors a day, both through county senior centers and home delivered meals. Putnam Aging also holds bimonthly dinners at the Winfield Community Center on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, starting at 4 p.m.

Plans call for the Putnam Aging 5K fundraiser to become an annual event which will be held on the first Sunday in May.