By Christie Slocum
Contributor
The Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society (CCHAPS) is hosting a new event this year that its leaders say will hopefully become an annual activity.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the local CCHAPS non-profit has not been able to hold any of its regular annual events during the past year. The group also has not qualified for many of the government assisted programs to allow them to keep on with their normal operations, according to its officials. This created the new idea to start a run that will support history and allow participants to remain socially distant. Called “The Walterborough 17.83; Run From Malaria,” the virtual event will take place during the month of April. CCHAPS chose the theme “Run From Malaria” as the first year’s theme because of the city’s history: in 1783, Paul and Jacob Walter rode their horses inland from the village of Jacksonboro to find a healthy spot to move their families. While living in the village of Jacksonboro, Paul lost all but one of his children to a fever and chills that stole the strength of men and women and claimed the lives of many children. The creeks and streams of Jacksonboro that caused the rice fields to flourish also became a breeding ground for the malaria mosquito. Based on local history, the brothers were documented as needing to find higher and dryer ground, which they found among dense growth of hickory and pine trees in modern-day Walterboro. The then valley they chose also had fresh water. The two brothers built two cabins that first summer. Within a few weeks, Paul was able to bring his sole surviving daughter, who was very ill with the disease we now believe to be malaria. It did not take her long to recover. The next summer, more families came and built cabins. It was not long before Hickory Valley, as it was once called, was circled with cabins. Eventually folks made the area their year-round home and not just a summer destination, creating a community.
The self-paced virtual event is geared towards folks of all ages and is meant to be for Colleton residents and for other people from around the area. Those that sign up will be given the entire month to complete the task of completing 17.83 miles by any form of exercise they would like.
Some will choose to walk, run, bike ride, rollerblade, Kayak or canoe the distance. It does not matter to CCHAPS how you choose to complete your mileage as long as it is by being active and not using a motor of any sort. Participants can sign up by visiting www.cchaps.com.
Participants can register online or print off the form and mail in their registration and payment.
The cost to participate is only $20 per person. Those that participate have the choice of a t-shirt or metal to commemorate participating in the event.
According to Sarah Miller, with CCHAPS, there are a few spots left for sponsorships for the event. If you would like to sponsor this event you can reach out to Miller at 843-635-5206.
Money raised will go to help CCHAPS in their efforts to continue historic preservation and education. The group hopes to make this an annual event but each year the theme and mileage will be different based on historical events across Colleton County.
