As a group of us volunteers stumbled into the Holiday Inn on Folly Beach at 6:30 AM to help with the registration for the runners, we all were greeted by a truly remarkable sight. Just as the sun was peeking over the horizon, Jupiter and Mars were so bright in the sky and the Moon was just setting over the water. It was truly a “Postcard Moment”. We all felt like our early morning effort had been rewarded.

We registered over 300 runners for the 5K and just over 210 runners for the half marathon. While the morning was cool, the sun was bright and the breeze was slight so it was a perfect day for our event. Piggly Wiggly was there to cheer everyone on. They donated all of the fruit, cookies and other food items for the runners. Bagel Nation (in the Publix Shopping Center on Folly Road) baked fresh bagels for us and they were wonderful. The Holiday Inn on Folly Beach supplied us with great space inside to register the runners and present the awards.

Carl Beckman, the mayor of Folly Beach was on hand to help with the awards. A great time was had by all and our thanks go out to Mike Desrosiers from Action Carolina for bringing this event together. He is truly a remarkable person and we are fortunate to have him organize and produce this event.

Over the past five years, Action Carolina has contributed the profits from this event to Save the Light and we at Save the Light have received in excess of $10,000.00 from this event. We at Save the Light thank all of the runners, volunteers and great sponsors who helped put on this years run. Plans are already underway for next years run, and we have it from “inside sources” that next year the course will change and the runners will be able to run down to see the Morris Island Lighthouse on their turn.

Work on the coffer dam around the Morris Island Lighthouse is finished. This is the conclusion of Phase !. Interlocking special Steel plates, 46 feet long were driven into the sand forming a circle around the foundation of the lighthouse so we could begin Phase II. The next Phase will allow us to treat the pilings and then to inject high tensil grout into the base. When this phase is completed, the foundation of the lighthouse will again be stable for many many years to come.

Save the Light has installed a web cam. You can view the progress live from your computer. Go to www.SaveTheLight.org click on “Links” and click on Charleston Crystal Ball link to the live Lighthouse web cam.

Saturday, February 2nd at 8:30 AM the Save the Light 1/2 Marathon and 5K Walk will start near the Holiday Inn. This year we expect between 400 to 500 runners and walkers. All of the profits are donated to Save the Light for the continuing restoration effort on the Morris Island Light House. If you wish to participate, contact Michael Desrosiers at 843-670-5321 or go to his web page at www.ActionCarolina.com to register on line. We are excited about having this event back on the calendar this year. Hopefully, it can turn into one of the State’s Premier 1/2 Marathons. The start of the race will be in front of the Holiday Inn on Folly Beach. Early registration will begin The Friday before the race and also at approximately 7:00 AM on race day.