What started as an early walk with “gym friends” at Anytime Fitness Club in Destrehan soon evolved into an exercise of love for Vickie Cain.
“After losing my son, William, to an accidental death two years ago, I vowed to give back to others as a way of coping with my own grief and honoring his memory,” said the Destrehan resident. “I participate in many fundraisers and my mantra ‘Running on Will Power’ is used in everything I do.”
Cain’s group has no official name.
These generous people, whose simple deeds of generosity come from the heart, don’t need one.
Before William died in 2013, Cain had committed to getting fit and started working out at her gym.
“He was really proud of that,” she said. William, only 27 and her only child, encouraged her to stay with it and it was good for her physically and mentally as her gym buddies became family, too.
“It just sort of caught on when we were going to the gym and doing these walks. We’d meet at the Bridge Park and then starting doing walks – averaging three to six miles – on the big holidays, starting with a walk and then went on with our holidays.”
After her son died, her “gym family” became her lifeline and particularly since she’s a native of St. Louis, Mo.
They asked about doing the “Bridge Run Series”– the United Way of St. Charles’ “Under the Bridge Run/Walk” with Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge, the Great Huey P. Long Bridge Run and the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Levee Run – in William’s memory.
Cain agreed.
Each time, she in the race wearing the words, “Will Power” until she was wearing the Commemorative Series Medallion that is given only to those who complete all three races. She wore it in her son’s memory.
During one of their walks, Cain recalled how their first charity run came up in a discussion. Several members of the group have children with autism so they organized their first charity race on April 2, which was also National Autism Awareness Day. It was called “Run for the Bling 5K” with the bling representing the medal awarded to the winner.
It was decided the race would benefit the cause chosen by gym friend Anne Schexnaydre. She chose Destrehan High School’s sensory room.
Despite no advertising, 25 people showed up for the run and a check for more than $500 went toward the renovation of the sensory room that serves the school’s special needs students.
“With our first race behind us, we set our sights on our next fundraiser and decided to do it on a slightly larger scale,” Cain said.
This is how the “Run 4 the Blue 5K” came together and this time for another member of the gym family – Daniell Nielsen of New Sarpy, whose husband was killed in the line of duty Aug. 16, 2012. The late Brandon Nielsen was a sheriff’s deputy with St. John the Baptist Parish gunned down by a terrorist group in LaPlace.
“She has been such an inspiration, not only as a mother raising five children after the death of her husband, but also how she used fitness as a way to cope with her grief and loss,” Cain said. “So, unanimously, the decision was made to raise money for the St. Charles Parish Fallen Heroes Memorial.”
Cain said they had no idea just how important that race would become.
“With all the officer shootings that had started occurring around this nation, soon the word spread about our race and before you know it we had over 100 individuals registered to participate,” she said.
Participants and donations poured in from local retailers, including Anytime Fitness, Winn-Dixie, Elmer’s Chee Wees, River Parish Disposal, Special Angels Outreach and the Pacers Running Club in Luling, and even the vendors who participated in the event held July 16 at the Sheriff’s headquarters in Luling donated half their proceeds. Southern Lights Candles sold “Blue Lives Matter” candles donating $10 per sale toward bulletproof vests for local sheriff’s deputies.
“The Dallas shooting where five officers lost their lives was fresh on everyone’s minds,” Cain said. “Families and friends gathered together and braved the heat to walk and show support for our officers in blue and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving their community. It was so much more than just a race.”
Sheriff Greg Champagne addressed the crowd and then Capt. Patrick Yoes, who also runs with the group, introduced Nielsen and presented her with an Award for Courage and Inspiration before the run. Daniell, who is now a personal trainer at Anytime Fitness, warmed up the group for the run.
The next morning, three Baton Rouge officers were ambushed and gunned down.
By Aug. 1, Cain presented Yoes with a check for $3,230. She and her gym family are already discussing next year’s blue run.
“It was cool to see the whole community come together,” said Cain, who organized their charity races.
Cain is contemplating their next run, possibly in fall, for causes that could include helping the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter or efforts to control substance abuse.
While the cause may change, the focus will remain the came for Cain.
“He was my world,” she said. “I’m trying to do it in my son’s name. I’m sure we’re not finished.”
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