200 Miles in Their Shoes

John Mahnke. Submitted photo.

Door County has become a haven for silent sports, or sports that promote participation over spectating. With several bike rides, runs and multi-sport events popping up throughout the peninsula, it has also created a ground for fundraising.

The Treatment Trail Run is a weeklong series of 5k running races throughout Eastern Wisconsin from Wauwatosa to the final event in Sister Bay. The series supports the GO BO! Foundation and the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. A few hardened souls cover the entire distance from Milwaukee to Sister Bay, totaling more than 200 miles in nine days.

After some discussion, organizers John Lorona and John Mahnke decided to run another edition of the event in 2015. The event will change courses slightly, though still starting at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and ending in Sister Bay. The changes will increase the total mileage during the course of nine days and a 5k will be held in each city the group stops at.

The weeklong event was the idea of Mahnke, who was moved when friends in Sister Bay received the news that their son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The family relied on the GO BO! Foundation to help with the expenses related to the boy’s treatment. The foundation “brings hope to children with life-threatening medical conditions by funding research, supporting treatment, and helping their families during times of financial need,” as their mission statement reads.

One of the primary gifts the foundation grants is aiding in travel expenses to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa.

The 5k events saw more than 200 participants, most of whom joined in Sister Bay. About six people participated in the 200-mile trail run in some way, from riding bikes alongside the runners to taking select days off. This year, organizers expect more than 10 runners to participate in the entire trail and they hope their 5k events see a similar growth.

Only in the past few years have endurance and athletic events transformed into a means to raise money for various causes.

“If you want to raise money you could just send an email out and say, ‘I’m raising money for cancer.’ When people put forth the effort, whether it’s a run or bike ride, it gives you something to follow along, something to look at and aspire to. Maybe you want to join them at some point,” said Mahnke. “Not only do we want you to help us with our cause, we want you to join us. You can do one 5k and still be as big a part of this as someone who runs 100 miles.”

The Treatment Trail 2.0 will take place June 12-20 and the 5k schedules are as follows:

• Friday, June 12 – Wauwatosa, Hart Park, 6 pm
• Saturday, June 13 – Port Washington, Upper Lake Park, noon
• Sunday, June 14 – Sheboygan, across from YMCA, noon
• Monday, June 15 – Manitowoc, across from Aurora Medical Center, 6 pm
• Tuesday, June 16 – Appleton, Telulah Park, 6 pm
• Wednesday, June 17 – De Pere, Voyageur Park, 6 pm
• Thursday, June 18 – Rest Day
• Friday, June 19 – Sturgeon Bay, Sunset Park, 6 pm
• Saturday, June 20 – Sister Bay, Sports Complex, noon