The Shawnee Dispatch / On the Run for Mercy

Thousands turn out to support Shawnee charity

April 26, 2006

Luvo Grace Rutledge made a very special appearance at the third annual "Run for Mercy," this weekend.

The 28-month-old isn't quite old enough to run in a 5K race, but her family is glad that others have. As the first adopted child of the Oceans of Mercy campaign to care for children of AIDS and HIV victims in South Africa, her new American parents couldn't be happier. Mike and Amy Rutledge of Fayetteville, Ark., adopted her about six months ago.

"I was one of the women who went over there and we got to spend a little bit of time with Mama Gladys," Amy said.

"There was no Oceans of Mercy then and she kept the children in her home."

When Amy saw Luvo, she fell in love.

"She was just a very striking baby," she said. "I wasn't thinking adoption at all, but on the flight home I felt like God spoke to me and told me to go back and get Luvo."

International adoptions are actually illegal in South Africa, but Luvo's adoption was finally granted. Amy said she found out recently that another couple lost their bid to adopt a South African child.

"They don't want their children leaving their country," she said. "There's a lot of pride there, they don't even admit they have an orphan problem. It was a miracle that we got Luvo."

Now 2 years old, Luvo wakes up singing every morning and is learning to speak English with a slight Arkansas accent, Amy said.

She brought Luvo to Shawnee last week so that runners could see the reason they were raising money. The Run for Mercy event attracted about 1,020 participants and raised more than $20,000 and ate 480 pancakes.

Vicki Cannon worked the registration booth and said thousands more came that didn't participate in the race.

"So many of them came for the pancakes," she said. "We even had two men from Italy who were just passing through and wanted to race."

Bailey Lovell and Alyssa Sale, Lexington Trails Middle School students, said the 5K run was easy for them.

"We're in track and so we got done in a little more than 20 minutes," Bailey said.

Alyssa said she enjoyed getting to help others.

"It's fun and you feel good about yourself afterwards, we get to help out people who need it most."

Jackie Wing, Shelby Meier and Daltop Morris, Monticello Trails Middle School students, also ran in the 5K race.

"My aunt is really involved with charities and I really wanted to help the children who are suffering," Jackie said. "I thought this would be a great opportunity to do that."

Maridee McClinton and Kenzie McClinton, Clear Creek Elementary students, ran in the 5K race.

"We came to help the kids," Kenzie said. "Most of their families are dead from AIDS, so we can be their families and bring them money."

Click here to view a Photo Gallery of the Run for Mercy

Winners of the 5K race:

Girls ages 1-10: Cece Kizer, age 8, with a time of 27:57

Girls ages 11-14: Hannah Evans, age 14, 21:00

Women ages 15-19: Haley Murray, 25:39

Women ages 20-29: Ginger Fuller, 24:06

Women ages 30-39: Suzette Downing, 23:08

Women ages 40-49: Jane Tompkins, 21:42

Women ages 50-59: Kaye McCormick, 22:22

Women ages 60-69: Linda Wehrle, 29:42