Cruise Across Camp Update

          The first annual Cruise Across Camp 5K was a huge blessing. This event was a fundraiser for our Leaders in Training program and we raised almost $12,000. We ended up with 115 and about 35 volunteers (pretty good, we think, for our first year). Many participants commented that the course was challenging (it includes a 1/3 mile uphill trail gaining 500 feet in elevation), but the views at the top were totally worth it!

            A huge highlight of this event was having twenty fifth graders participate from World Impact's school in South Central Los Angeles. Two of their teachers (who have both served on summer staff here at The Oaks) motivated and trained these inner-city students diligently for a couple of months. They all finished, with a couple of the boys coming in fourth and fifth place overall! Participating in this event was a massive accomplishment and ego-booster for these sweet kids. One of the teachers (a runner who recently finished her first marathon) said, “Watching my kids cross that finish line sprinting may have been even better than crossing the LA marathon back in March.”

            Thank you so much to those of you who supported this event. Your support is providing some really special teens with a life-changing opportunity. Next year's date is May 11, 2013! Mark you calendars if you are local. We are hoping for 300 participants next year!

The starting line

Students and leaders from World Impact's LA school

The first mile