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Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Join the Harlan County Shriners as they celebrate their second annual Fun Day in the Park event at their fairgrounds in Putney on Sept. 15 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. The first 300 children through the gate will receive a free T-shirt. Harlan County Shriners President Bill Howard said you’ll want to bring the entire family and enjoy a fun-filled day with lots of activities for the children.

“Last year’s event was such a huge success we decided to continue it as an annual event,” said Howard. “We had approximately 300 kids who attended last year and we hope to double that this year. This is a way of giving back to the people of Harlan County because they have always been so supportive of the Shriners organization.”

Activities planned for the event are inflatables, face painting, pony rides and horse walks, corn hole toss, water balloon toss, basketball shoot and much more.

“We built a new train just for the kids and adults to ride this year,” said Howard. “Everything is free during the event. We’ll be giving away prizes for all the games. We’ll have free hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and drinks. There will be music for everyone to enjoy. Kids may tour the Harlan County Rescue Squad crash truck, Harlan Fire Department fire truck, a Kentucky State Police, Harlan City and Harlan County Sheriff’s office cruisers, along with Air Evac helicopter. You don’t want to miss this exciting event.”

Howard said any child, up to age 23, is eligible to be treated at a Shriners Hospital regardless of family income or whether they have insurance or not. He said it’s free medical care “for any child who needs it.”

“A new wing is now being built at the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington where the Shriners Hospital will be moved,” said Howard. “It’s a $52 million project, which they hope to have completed sometime in 2013. When you see a child or parent that comes up to you at a roadblock or one of our events and says thank you for the medical care they received at a Shriners Hospital it makes it all worthwhile. Those smiles are what pushes us forward to do as much as we can to help and give back to our community. No man stands as tall as one who stoops to help a child. So, make plans to attend out Fun Day in the Park on Sept. 15.”

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com