Hartwell Lake Charity Run Feeds The Need To Give Back
The owner of a 2008 model-year Donzi 38 ZRC V-bottom recently updated by BRP Marine Customs in Denver, N.C., Jack Gladke entered the Hartwell Lake Charity Run benefitting Meals On Wheels-Anderson in South Carolina for the first time this year. Gladke, who lives in Upstate New York, had heard good things about the event and was looking forward to experiencing it himself. He also looked forward to seeing the revamped interior of his 38-footer for the first time.
Perfect water conditions greeted participants at the 14th annual Hartwell Lake Charity Run last weekend in South Carolina. Photos courtesy/copyright Mark Godsey, Kelly O’Hara and Devin Wozencraft.
Both the event and his updated sportboat blew him away.
“For me, the highlight was getting to run my newly outfitted boat and explore a different body of water all in support of charity that is near and dear to my heart,” said Gladke. “I live in rural Upstate New York and I’m very familiar with the great things the Meals On Wheels program provides—nutritious meals, smiling faces and daily welfare check for some of our most vulnerable and often forgotten citizens.”
The fleet for Saturday’s 100-plus-mile run topped 100 boats and, though a final total is not yet in, the event reportedly raised more than $100,000 for the essential charity, which brings meals to the homes of seniors in need.
A longtime supporter of the Hartwell Lake Charity Run, Todd Campbell, who owns a 57-foot MTI center console called Unbridled, led the drivers meeting.
Gladke’s friend and fellow Upstate New York resident Kelly O’Hara was another Hartwell Lake happening first-timer. And like O’Hara he was dazzled by the 14th annual run.
“The Hartwell event delivered perfect weather, great water for running and was well organized and all-around enjoyable,” he said. “The Southern hospitality of our hosts, Chuck and Shannon Stark, for our stay, combined with our heartfelt appreciation of the work of Meals On Wheels will have us returning next year.”
Just a week earlier, O’Hara and the Starks had enjoyed the Kuttawa Cannonball Run in Kentucky. During that weekend, Chuck Stark persuaded powerboat graphics man Stephen Miles, who helps Jeff Hoefling and Terry Martin produce the Kuttawa event, to the Hartwell Lake run.
Enjoy more images from last weekend’s event.
The famed powerboat graphics man based in Owensboro, Ky., was not disappointed.
“It was bad ass,” said Miles. “Chuck sent his airplane to get us last Thursday and we rode in his Outerlimits SC 37 cat that day. “The following day, Chuck went out with his family on his MTI- V 42 and he let me and my wife, Heather, take the Outerlimits, so we ran in the pack with Mark and Britney Godsey in their MTI 390X and Mike and Angela Goldbaugh in their Skater 368.
“Chuck and Shannon treated us like royalty,” he added. “We’ll be back.”
So, too, will Gladke.
“It was incredible—definitely one we’ll be adding to the circuit,” he said. “It has beautiful water, great people and best of all a wonderful charity.”
(From left) A close-knit group, Britney Godsey, Angela Goldbaugh, Chuck Stark, Shannon Stark and Mike Goldbaugh shared a moment at the 2023 Hartwell event.
Speedonthewater.com will report the final fundraising total for Meals On Wheels-Anderson from the 2023 Hartwell Lake Charity Run when it becomes available.
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