CovingtonCares Magazine - Spring/Summer 2024

CovingtonCares 9 They get inspiration each December by traveling to the hospital’s main location in Memphis for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, which includes 5K, 10K, half- marathon, and marathon races. Young patients – children fighting for their lives – line up along the street outside the hospital to cheer on the runners. ‘Screaming Your Name’ “They make you feel like celebrities when you run,” said Tori Easterling. “They’re screaming your name and thanking you.” “It just makes you feel like, as long as I have a healthy body, I’m doing this,” said Jackie Cascio. Covington County Hospital Pharmacist Jennifer Patterson named the group after a New Orleans jazz band. “She pretty much got us all together,” said Dory Craft, LPTA, a Physical Therapy Assistant at Performance Therapy Magee. Running Buddies Other Swamp Donkey runners include Tori Easterling, Dory Craft, Delilah Hudson CCH employee, Robin Leggett- Hudson CCH employee, Alisa Smith, Amber Robinson, Jennifer Patterson CCH employee, Christie Craft, Jackie Cascio, Whitney Harvey, Brittany Hicks, Aleisha Sanford, Alicia McQueen, Lindsey Dickinson, Marsie White, Misty Jordan, Anna McLaurin, Deanna Jones, Dawn Wimberley, Jessica Loftin, and Krystal Keys. Their two big annual fundraisers are the Run for a Cure 5K and Kids Fun Run at the Mitchell Farms Peanut Festival in October and the Peanut Festival Queen Pageant in August, with the pageant winners presented at the festival itself. They also offer Pictures with Santa at The Copper Penny Boutique in downtown Collins in November. Professional photographer Brittney Norman, who works in the physical therapy department at Covington County Hospital, donates her services. School Kids Help Local businesses sponsor those events. The Beta Club at Collins Elementary School chips in with its own fundraiser each year.