More than a sweet treat: Ormond Beach Police Athletic League holds eighth annual Donut Dash 5K

Community outreach was the goal for the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League at the fundraiser held on Saturday, April 19, at The Trails Shopping Center.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 3:00 p.m. April 22, 2025
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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Sugar infused runners and walkers rushed through the Trails Shopping Center parking lot, into the adjoining neighborhood and returned to cross the finish line at the eighth annual Donut Dash 5K in support of the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League on Saturday, April 19.  

Lisa Messersmith Weaver has been the Ormond Beach PAL director for almost 22 years. She has been involved in organizing the Donut Dash fundraiser since the inaugural event, which had a mere 50 people sign up. This year, there were 294 entrants.

Ormond Beach PAL serves approximately 1000 children per year. Messersmith Weaver said they offer educational, athletic, recreational, cultural and leadership programs to kids ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old. Hosting events helps PAL be able to offer those programs free to the public.  

“I feel like it’s just a true blessing to be able to work with the community and the youth in the community,” she said. “We have an amazing PAL team and an amazing police department. It’s just perfect.”

The police department’s mine-resistant, armored-protective vehicle, or MRAP, was open for tours and Ormond Beach Fire Station 92 firefighters Bill Baranowski, Robert Durham, Robert Zalewski and Clay Carn were there to assist in case of an emergency and to share information with attendees. 

This isn’t a huge moneymaker for the Police Athletic League but to me the win is the connection to the community. You can’t put a price on community engagement and trust. That to me is the win. - JESSE GODFREY, Ormond Beach Police Chief

Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey has led the department since 2016. He said he inherited the trust-built connection with the community from his predecessors.

“We just amplified the connection through these outreach programs,” he said. “I truly believe the more outreach you do in your community, the more transparent you are and obviously you have a better connection with your community. That’s a testament today at this one outreach event.”

Families, friends and vacationers visiting the area for the Easter weekend arrived from New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, North and South Carolina to join local participants at the event.

Seabreeze junior Hunter Shuler and his father Paul Shuler, a Seabreeze math teacher and coach, finished one-two overall and first in their divisions in 16:47 and 18:51, respectively. Hunter was the overall men’s winner and Tara Kilcullen-Oliva ran a 22:45 to take the overall win for women. Brad Pinker, 39, of Ormond Beach, took third place overall with a 20:40 and 9-year-old Arie Gomez-Rivera from Haymarket, Virginia, finished eighth overall and first in the nine-and-under division with a 22:40. 

Julian Jamison-Sissle was there to support fellow runner Mario Pickett who placed second in the men’s 35-39 division. Jamison-Sissle currently operates the Daytona Speed Run Club which he founded one year ago. First and foremost, running is about fitness but it is also about community, he said.

“Right now, there’s an epidemic of loneliness,” he said. “You do one or two races and you see some faces — you just met your brother, your sister, your cousin. The whole community aspect (of running) is bringing everybody together and doing something healthy and positive.”

The Donut Dash has consistently garnered support from local businesses every year and continues to gain interest in the City of Ormond Beach. Community partners included Love’s Whole Foods and the Trails Shopping Center. Several sponsors setup booths to share information and give away free services including Alison Boscovich State Farm, Blossom Dental, Daytona International Speedway, Delta Life Fitness, New Journey Chiropractic and Revive Fitness & Lifestyle.

Ormond Beach PAL vice president Al Legg and board members Manny Manolas, PAL basketball coach Avery Randolph and Darrell Brock were there handing out doughnuts and water. Dunkin’ Donuts and Publix saved the day and supplied the delectables just in time to satiate the participants after the original doughnut order did not arrive. 

“This event is important for the community because we involve everybody,” Legg said. “We can get the kids involved, all the age groups and all the running clubs. They love the area of The Trails and a lot of the doughnuts that go with it.”

The next major fundraiser for the Ormond Beach PAL is the annual golf tournament held at Halifax Plantation on the first Sunday in November.

Messersmith Weaver said the Donut Dash fundraiser is a way for people to see what the OBPAL does for families in the area. It is also a chance for kids in the youth leadership program who work the event, to see that they are supported by the community.

“It shows that the community values their young people and the community sees them as important parts of the future,” she said. 

Messersmith Weaver added that it also provides a way for the police to relate to the community in an open and positive environment.

“This isn’t a huge moneymaker for the Police Athletic League but to me the win is the connection to the community,” Godfrey said. “You can’t put a price on community engagement and trust. That to me is the win.”

Full results of the Donut Dash are available at www.racesmith.com. 

 

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