Rotary Club of Swansea hosts successful 23rd annual 5K Run/Walk
Participants at the start line.
More than 100 participants raised money for student scholarships
The Rotary Club of Swansea hosted their 23rd annual “Service Above Self” 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 30, 2026, which began and ended at Wolf Branch Elementary School.
More than 100 participants of all ages helped to support the Chad Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund which benefits college scholarship programs for qualifying graduates of area high schools.
Some of the runners are shown here during the event.
“Reaching our 23rd year for this event is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Swansea community and their commitment to ‘Service Above Self,'” said Swansea Rotarian Steve Pulley, event organizer. “Seeing more than 100 participants of all ages gather at Wolf Branch Elementary reminds us that while Chad Wood’s passing in 2005 was a profound loss, his legacy continues to do immense good for area high schoolers every single year.”
The news of Chad Wood’s sudden and unexpected death on Monday morning, May 9, 2005, took the breath away from all of the Rotary’s members. Ray Wood was the charter president when the Rotary Club of Swansea was formed in 2002. He and his wife, Penny, had been a wonderful friend and supporter of the club. Chad was a fine student, a superb athlete who starred on the Belleville East Lancers football and baseball teams and, most important, was a devoted and loving son to his parents and a wonderful brother to his three siblings: Jennifer, Gretchen and Robert.
At its meeting on May 12, 2005, the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Swansea unanimously voted to donate $1,000 to the Belleville East High School Athletic Department in Chad’s memory and approved a motion to designate its scholarship program, funded by the 5K Run each year, as the Chad Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The 2026 recipients of the Chad Wood Memorial Scholarship will be recognized on June 11 during the Rotary’s 7:30 a.m. meeting at the Thompson Center.
“The Rotary Club of Swansea is thrilled to name Adam Belzing (Belleville West), Emalee Fruechte (Althoff), and Caitlyn Lashley (Belleville East) as our 2026 scholarship recipients,” said Club President Jim Wilson. “By participating in this 5K or supporting our CAVE raffle, our neighbors and sponsors are doing more than just donating; they are directly investing in the diverse career paths and bright futures of these local graduates.”
The “Service Above Self” 5K Run/Walk is held each year on the first Saturday after Memorial Day, so mark your calendars now for next year’s event on Saturday, May 29, 2027.
Donations can be made to the Chad Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund by mailing a check to PO Box 23746, Belleville, IL 62223, or visiting www.swansearotary.org for online options. Please note “Chad Wood Memorial Scholarship Donation” on the payment.
Photos provided by The Rotary Club of Swansea.
Some of the event participants pause for a photo.
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org. To find a club near you visit https://my.rotary.org/en/club-search.
