You're listening to Perspective on WFHR 1320 AM, 97.5 FM.
I'm Melissa Kay bringing you news in our community.
During this interview I'm talking with Matt Sakowski, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic Schools on Friday, April 10th.
Thank you for joining me, Matt, to bring the community an update from Assumption.
Melissa, always great being here.
Thank you for having me to discuss this important community event.
brought to us by Assumption Catholic School.
And that important community event is the Run the Rapids, which is coming up in a little bit this month here.
So let's just dive right in, Matt.
What do we got?
Melissa, I really, again, thank you for this opportunity to run the Rapids 5k run walk.
We are entering our 21st year of this event.
Wow.
It's the longest running event of its kind in Wisconsin Rapids.
And the focus of this event
it really zeroes in on the great work that that would Connie human services does with families and children that are affected by child abuse.
So this event is about child abuse prevention.
And it supports the efforts that human services does with these families.
So the dollars that are raised earmarked or what they're trying to do.
So important.
Unfortunately, Melissa back and
Just last year in 2025, there were reported 222 cases of child abuse, which includes neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional damage, and abuse to unborn children.
So there definitely is a need for this.
And you would think in our day and age that what I just discussed with you would belong in a museum, that this is what happened many years ago, but unfortunately it's just
a reality every year that we face.
And it seems like these stats get bigger.
So there really is a need for this community to not only support it, the funds for human service services, but to create awareness of what exactly is going on.
And that's what it does.
And we're so proud assumption Catholic schools to be part of this.
Because really what we do
in a larger sense not only with our schools but with the catholic churches to support children and families and this fits in right to what we do it's right in our wheelhouse so the event is on saturday april 25th so again appreciate the time that we have to discuss this
yeah so when you're um can you pre-register for the event i believe
absolutely so
All the registration takes place on our registration site.
It's done online.
Okay.
And what you need to do what everyone needs to do is go to run the rapids.
It's your race.com.
Very simple, easy way to register.
You can register right up until race morning.
The fee is $30 for anyone that's 11 and above $15 for people that are aged 10 and below.
And then on race morning,
There's a $5 late fee.
Okay.
So it's best for everyone to get and register right now before the 25th.
So it is never too late.
We have plenty of room.
And the thing that's excited actually today is the t-shirt deadline.
So when listeners probably hear this, it'll be passed the deadline.
By that order, plenty of extra shirts, plenty of shirts.
And we're known for our participant shirts are very nice.
And you also get a drawstring bag.
Okay.
It's more of an athletic bag that you can, you know, if you have your shoes or water bottles, those people love those and those are are made possible through one of our donors.
Oh, nice.
That really wants who made the design
for the t shirt this year.
You know, I work through I work with will enterprises.
That's a company in Milwaukee.
Okay.
And I work with an artist.
there and she is, I've been doing this many years, Melissa.
So we have a good, good relationship.
And in fact, when I after we get done taping this, I got to head back and conclude that order.
Okay, so it's all good.
So I would say just in general for everyone listening, come on out.
It's really a great event that kicks off spring in our community.
Not only that, you're supporting a great cause that is so needed.
So let's talk about the course just a little bit.
Where does it start?
I like to think the course, Melissa, is really one of the better courses.
I've done myself a lot of these 5K events.
And this one is a real gem.
So it takes place right in front of the Moravian Church on 1st Avenue.
That's where the starting finish line is.
And about 90% of the course takes place on the Otto Wagon.
trail.
Okay, which rolls right along the Wisconsin River.
So you start by the Moravian Church.
It's an Alton back course.
Okay, you stay on that trail and the turnaround is located approximately where the firefighters Memorial is located.
Okay, you turn around you head back to the finish line.
So really a beautiful course you're right along the river.
And definitely one of the highlights I think of this event.
cause first event of spring.
Beautiful course.
Yeah.
And then there's a, and what, what time does registration start?
So great question, Melissa.
People can pre-register at 730 in the morning.
So 730 to 830.
And it takes place in the Centrilia Center, the Riverwalk, right where the community theater is located.
So it takes your register, pick up, and if you pre-register, that's where you pick up your, your bed and t-shirt.
Okay.
And then another big part of the event is we have a free Kids Dash at 8.45.
Oh, fun.
So 15 minutes before we start the race at 9am.
And then we're off.
So it's Centrilius Center register.
You walk down to the start line and off we go.
And tell me a little bit about the Kids Dash.
What is that?
The Kids Dash is takes place at the start and finish line.
We actually have the assumption track team that'll be
helping us out with these kids.
So it's a it's a little out and back.
It's like a mini course.
Okay.
So I would say the distance for these kids for these young ones, a little less than half a mile.
Okay.
Which is a challenge in itself.
Kids get a water bottle and a medallion.
It's free.
Come on out, bring your child.
And that is primarily for kids age five and under.
Okay, you could be six or seven and do it but age five.
And under that's where primarily the kids dash is all about.
Okay.
So then the big race starts at nine.
The big event starts at 9am.
We get usually about an hour.
We wrap up one great feature that we have Melissa is we have pioneering, pioneering, I hope I'm pronouncing this correct, pioneering is running lab.
Oh, they're part of Robert's therapy.
Okay.
And they're doing free massages.
Oh, nice.
So when you get done with your race,
Whether permitting will be outside, but that hasn't been the case.
At least in my six years of doing this.
So we take advantage of the Centrilius Center.
So when they get done, they can go up, get their massage.
We have pulse rates, refreshments, courtesy of quicksrop.
Nice.
And our award ceremony will take place at 1015 inside the Centrilius Center.
Again, if we're so blessed to have a beautiful day, we'll move those activities near the start and finish line.
Sure.
And then as far as the, what is this, drawing Garmin GPS watch?
Yes.
Last year we had a drawing for an adult male and female, a GPS Garmin watch.
So again, this is donated by one of our sponsors.
So I'm really glad you brought this up, Melissa, because we're going to do that again this year.
So we do the drawing after the race.
before the award ceremony, but you gotta be there.
So you just can't split after the race.
If you want that watch, but it's a great watch.
It's a GPS, Garmin, very simple.
And when you use these, it keeps track of your distance.
Like
your steps and everything.
Steps.
Oh, cool.
It's amazing what these watches can
do.
And well, why don't we pause right here?
And when we come back, we'll talk about the corporate challenge, the different divisions and the prizes and also the sponsors.
Sounds good, Melissa.
All right.
Well, we'll pause here to hear from our sponsors.
I'm Melissa Kay talking with Matt Zekowski, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic Schools.
And you're listening to Perspective on 13 20 a.m.
97 5 f m W F H R.
Welcome.
You are listening to Perspective on WFHR 1320 AM, 97.5 FM.
I'm Melissa Kay bringing you news in our community.
I'm speaking with Matt Sakowski, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic Schools.
And where we left off, Matt, we were talking about this Run the Rapids 5K Run Walk that's happening on Saturday, April 25th.
We talked about the race course, the different age groups, or the price for the different age groups.
But now let's dive into a little bit more of the age division and the prizes.
Well, what we do, Melissa, we do have age divisions.
And I want to emphasize everyone in the listening audience, you don't have to be a runner to be part of this event.
Don't worry about these age division and the awards, what we're going to talk about.
I would say 60% of our participants are walkers.
So all walkers primarily big part of our what this is.
But they get to our age divisions.
And I'm just going to go over those right now.
We have male and female age 13 and under.
male and female age 14 to 19, male and female 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49.
These are ages, by the way, ages 50 to 59, ages 60 to 69 and age 70 and over.
So male and female in those age divisions, the top three get a medallion.
The first, second and third, then there's a top overall winner for the male and female and they get a plaque.
Oh, nice.
So it is nice.
So those are our age divisions.
And if you don't mind Melissa, how about we talk about our sponsors?
Sure, let's
dive into
the
sponsors.
They're the ones that make this event possible.
And this is a cross section of so many outstanding organizations, people that are supporting this event.
And again, this we couldn't do it without them.
So I really appreciate this time to the list who we have and I could
take another half hour talking about these people, but we won't do that.
So we have our platinum sponsors.
And that is advanced janitorial advanced owned by Brian Nickel, who only has a few more months.
He sold is his company.
But you know, Brian's been with advanced for years and a huge supporter of this event.
They're a platinum sponsor.
We have the Ann Santaga family for our gold sponsors.
Of course, we have Caldwell Bankers, Seward and Realtors, led by JR Seward.
JR is on the committee here of the planning committee.
He unfortunately will not be here this year.
He's in Florida, but he'll be with us in spirit.
He got his racing career started with this event, and he went on to run.
eight Boston Marathons.
I love talking about JR.
So we have Colwell Banker, Seaward and Realtors, Complete Control Incorporated, the dental suite.
Dr. Elizabeth Doolittle, huge, this huge supporter, and we have Dick and Michelle Lang, our silver sponsors, Aspirus Health, Bank of Cone Corporation.
We have a new silver sponsor, Goodwin Construction.
We have the cookie jar.
You want good bakery, go to the cookie jar located right across from the West IGA.
We have Luke Weil and attorney at law, ortho molecule products, Wisconsin River Orthopedics, and Wood County Deputy Sheriff's Association, our bronze sponsors.
We have a new one, the alternative edge.
Okay, love that story.
Becker and Cum CPA express recycling solutions from the grown up coffee house.
Kohler vision, another new sponsor, Ridge Top Exteriors, Solaris, Tri-Core LLC, another new one, Carey Van Ert State Farm, Whiskey Rapid Saloon, and Eighth Street Auto.
What a diverse group of sponsors coming together.
It's just really a great thing, Melissa.
They're the ones that I'm most proud of.
One of the things I'm really proud about this event is that support.
And I'd like to recognize our in-kind sponsors.
We have advanced America that will supply the water for our participants.
Crockett septic with the pota toilets.
Gotta have those.
Franklin finish.
That's the timer.
Jake Franklin is the timer who owns Franklin finish.
He's a great help setting up the registration site.
He's part of the planning committee as well.
Quick trip.
Quick trip.
Community oriented.
What an organization.
NRG media.
helping us out, getting some ads out, Ocean Spray, another solid and kind sponsor.
I mentioned the Pineries running lab.
Gotta got to acknowledge WFHR AM 1320.
Thanks for
obviously support Melissa.
Yeah.
Well, you know, locally grown radio and these local events, it's important to talk about these and to to inform the public on what's happening and what's coming up.
Yes, indeed.
So everybody, those are sponsors.
And again, what a great list it is.
So just wonderful people.
And you had mentioned earlier about our corporate challenge, Melissa, we do have that and what it is, it's
primarily a lot of our sponsors get their employees that want to participate.
Okay.
It's a good way to get people out to form fellowship amongst their their companies and organizations.
And we also have some friendship groups that let's say that aren't a company that have their own team.
Yeah.
And really what it is is it's just getting the the greatest amount of people from your
company organization or friendship group to be involved in the event.
Gotcha.
And we do have a contest.
We have a traveling trophy.
It's kind of like our version of the of the rider cup or the green jacket.
So whoever has the most participants for one year hangs on to the traveling trophy.
So it's fun.
And the previous two years champions has been human services.
Nice.
They really get out.
and support it so this year it's they have some competition so we'll see and that is always uh we introduce who the winner is at this at the award ceremony nice so that is uh not too late to join so if anyone listening has a friendship friendship group and again if you do that we give you a promo code and you get five dollars off the registration fee oh nice so contact me if you have a group of friends
My direct line at Assumption Catholic School, 715-422-0914.
But about 95% of the time people contact me by my email.
So my email, matthewmatthew.sikowski.
Z is in zebra, a.k.a.
o-w-s-k-i at a-c-s-w-r.org.
look forward to hearing from you.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So it's not too late to join in.
You can still register even though it's past the t-shirt date.
Sounds like Matt's got got potentially got you covered with some extras.
I got extras.
Yeah.
I mean, doing this year after year, you you kind of know what's how many extras you need to order.
So you'll be
Yeah, with
this being the 21st year of this long-standing race in Wisconsin Rapids to support a wonderful, maybe wonderful isn't the right way to put it, but educating people on child abuse and that it is still happening and supporting the work, the good work that the Wood County Human Services does to help children and families.
Absolutely, Melissa.
Saturday, April 25th, 9 a.m.
Started finished by the Moravian Church, plenty of parking in the Centrilius Center parking lot.
We love to see you.
And I really would hope the community comes on out, supports this great event.
Even if you didn't want to run or walk, you can still cheer them on from the sidelines.
You know, one last thing to Melissa, if anyone is interested in any volunteer opportunities, you can
I mean, we're always looking for even more help than the volunteers that we already have.
And then you can contact me at those numbers I just
gave.
Well, I think that we've wrapped this up pretty well.
I'm Melissa Kaye, speaking with Madzikowski, Director of Advancement, Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic Schools.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today, Matt.
Thanks a lot, Melissa.
So long, everybody.
And thank you to our listeners joining us for news in our community on Perspective 1320 AM, 97.5 FM WFHR.
