Longmont community rallies at Happy Smackah 5K Fun Run

Dana Cadey, Daily Times-Call, Longmont, Colo.
·2 min read

May 11—"Longmont's McIntosh Lake was busy Saturday morning as people of all ages came together for the Happy Smackah 5K fun run.

The run is held every year to benefit a student or faculty member of the St. Vrain Valley School District. This year, that recipient is Maddie Angelino — a Longmont High School English teacher who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Angelino will receive funds raised through the run's registration fees and sponsorships, as well as any additional donations.

"It's incredible," said Angelino on Saturday. "I definitely cried. I'm hiding my tears behind my sunglasses."

Angelino attended the race with her fiancé and her mom, and spent the morning receiving hugs and congratulations from participants. As runners and walkers crossed the finish line, they were met with the smiles and shimmering pom-poms of Longmont High School cheerleaders.

"I have some of them as students," Angelino said of the cheerleaders. "It's so special."

Angelino added that the timing of the run couldn't be better.

"I'm going into my last round of chemo on Friday, so it's like that final push to the end," she said.

Karen Clancy-Cribby, one of the event coordinators, said more than a thousand people registered for the run. Several more showed up Saturday morning for day-of registration.

"It feels wonderful," Clancy-Cribby said. "There are people here who have done it pretty much every year."

The fundraiser began in 2011 to benefit Clancy-Cribby's husband, Dan Cribby — the first "happy smackah."

"It's awesome, and it always has been," Cribby said of the event. "Maddie ... she's such a ray of sunshine to people."

This year's 5K had around 30 sponsors, a dozen of which had a presence at McIntosh Lake on Saturday. Some of the booths offered drinks and snacks, while others entertained kids with games, face painting and other activities.

Longmont auto body shop Auto Hail Solutions joined as a new sponsor this year. Manager Zach Silva said his own family members have dealt with cancer, which is why he wanted to support the fundraiser.

"We're definitely happy to be here for Maddie," Silva said.