Race for Ace organizers Robin and Jamie Hackert hold a check from this year’s event proceeds – $21,481.76 – which will go to the Serenity Haven initiative to build a home for special needs adults like Acea Hackert in Sully. Jamie Hackert prepares to lead Race for Ace participants around the 5k trail run/walk at Hackert Tree Farm on a beautiful Saturday morning on May 31.
The Third Annual Race for Ace on Saturday, May 31, raised $21,481.76 to benefit Serenity Haven, which will be built in Sully for special needs adults like Acea Hackert. The event was held at Hackert Tree Farm located between Lynnville and Sully, and the weather was the perfect temperature without the strong winds the area has been experiencing in recent weeks.
This year, a new event was a free fun run, almost a mile long, for kids ages 4-10. Registrations totaled about 20 and winners were:
- Case Rozendaal,
- Dawson Morvant, and
- Kaiser Kesling.
This year’s 5k run/walk registrants numbering slightly over 100 ran and walked with family, friends, and fellow competitors through scenic and hilly trails highlighting the beauty of the 100-acre Hackert Tree Farm.
The first three males crossing the finish line were: 1. Madden Gunsaulus, 2. Dalton Winegar, and 3. Keller Thompson, and the first three females crossing the finish line were 1. Kate Arkema, 2. Abby Freese, and 3. Kallie Van Zee.
Breakfast was served during the event. Winners in the raffle drawings were: Diana Scandridge – Eten en Voeden gift basket, Allen Scholten – custom-built knife crafted by Morvant Knives, Jason Van Zante – Blackstone grill donated by Pella Tree Service, Dave Voss – planted tree donated by Hackert Tree Farm, Allen Scholten and Dave Voss – each half hog donated by Vander Wilt Farms with processing donated by Dee Vander Wilt, Corey Van Kooten – custom-built 1/64-scale semi by Travis Morvant, Sherrill Van Wyk – hair lovers gift basket donated by AllyCuts, Callista Hackert – coffee lovers gift basket donated by Fresh Start Distributing, and three quilts made and donated by Louise Redding – Star Wars quilt to Arloa Harthoorn, pink breast cancer quilt to Skyler Young, and All Roads Lead Home quilt to Tyler Harsselaar.
“We would like to thank our amazing families, our friends, and our communities for their generosity and support for the annual Race for Ace 2025!” said the Hackerts about the event they organized with several relatives and friends. “We raised over $21,000 for Serenity Haven. We are blessed to live in such a generous and supportive community. We are looking forward to seeing you all again next year! Also, our thanks to AllyCuts, Co-Line Welding, Dee Vander Wilt, Eten en Voeden, Fareway-Newton, Fresh Start Distributing, The Identity Group, Hackert Tree Farm, Hometown Press, Hy-Vee-Newton, La Rose Marie Bakery, Louise Redding, Morvant Kustom Knives, Pella Tree Service, Prime Country Catering, Travis Morvant, Sully Locker, and Vander Wilt Farms.”
