May the Force be with them: Wookie Wobble 5K participants set off on the race course.

In recent years, May 4 has become an informal Star Wars holiday for fans due to the day’s similar sound to the series’ famous benediction, “May the Force be with you.”

Last Sunday may have been May the 3rd, but that did not change the theme of the second annual Wookie Wobble, a 5K fundraiser for the Putnam Aging program. The 5K was held on Sunday afternoon at Valley Park in Hurricane, with O Such Tri-state Race Planners keeping score. While most participants wore standard athletic gear to the event, others dressed up in Star Wars inspired outfits. Over sixty people participated in the event.

The Wookie Wobble benefits Putnam Aging’s home-delivery meal program that serves 220 senior citizens in Putnam County. There is currently a wait list for new recipients, and fundraisers like these help get people off the list so they can start receiving meals.

“Our goal is to raise enough money to get rid of the wait list,” said Jenni Sutherland, executive director.
Putnam Aging would like to thank local businesses and organizations which sponsored the Wookie Wobble: Absten Services LLC, Eye Associates of Teays Valley, Shaffer and Shaffer PLLC, West Virginia Health services, Genesis, Metro Area Agency on Aging, City of City of Winfield, O Such Race Planners, Graphic Solutions, C&T Designs, Putnam County Lions Club, Kim Quillen Photography, Trulieve, Putnam County Bank, and Teays Valley Storage.

Putnam Aging operates the county’s senior centers and hosts various events for older individuals. The next big event that the organization will be hosting is the 2026 Senior Prom, which will be held on Friday, May 15, at the John Henson Senior Center in Hurricane from 4 to 7 p.m.