The 2022 “Run for the Hills!” 5K Fundraiser at Hidden Lake Gardens gets a gift match from the late Grace Edwards Owens.

Grace Edwards Owens

Some know the late Grace Edwards Owens because she helped them sell and/or find their home, as that is how she is best known serving Lenawee County (as a real estate agent and broker, Irish Hills Realty, 1972-2001). She was a past president of the Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce and Lenawee County Board of Realtors. After retiring in 2001, she expressed her talents as an artist, writer, golfer, and runner. As a runner, she won many 5Ks in her age group, her last being at 80 years of age at Hidden Lake Gardens in Run for the Hills.

“I remember moving here from Missouri 54 years ago” says her daughter Zonya Edwards Foco. “There was not a year that we didn’t go to Hidden Lake Gardens to hike the trails, visit the tropical and desert domes, and have a picnic. And the best memories are running the “Oh These Irish Hills! Run for the Hills 5K” together. From when I would run faster than her, and then run back to her to ‘run in together’, to when we walked the whole thing together (when she was 80), my mom and I have loved this race and her getting her age-group awards, many times over.”

 

On February 6th of 2022, she succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 85.

As her spokesperson, Zonya shares, “In honor of her passing just this past February and knowing how she loved to spread the joy of running and support the Reach for the Sky project at Hidden Lake Gardens, Grace will be granting a 100% match of all registrations for the September 17, 2022 race. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is Grace at Hidden Lake Gardens, receiving her first-place 5K age-group finisher medal at the age of 80.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace enjoying a beverage on the pontoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace and husband Bill off on an adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace and Great Granddaughter Peyton at Hidden Lake Gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace and Bill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace and Great Granddaughter Peyton at Hidden Lake Gardens.

That means for every adult or child registering for the 5K or 1 mile walk or run, all registration tickets will double the revenue raised. This will help Reach for the Sky meet their goal more quickly and will support the great work Oh These Irish Hills! does spreading joy in our community.

So please, whether you walk or run, do one mile, or the 5K, please come out and join in on the fun, knowing that your ticket contribution has double its power to ‘Gracefully’ support our community treasures.”

One of Grace’s writings “Why I Run” can be viewed here and is available for reprint.

Graces childhood stories “Missouri Farm Girl” have been published into a children’s book and can be found on Amazon.