Exciting details revealed about B.A.B.E.'s upcoming family event in Columbia City
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) The BABE Extravaganza committee has been working diligently to plan the June 21 event for several months. Above, from left, are committee members Erica Sefton, Cara Graves, Shawn Ellis and Shawna Mullett. Not shown is committee member Sarah Schuman.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
To say she was ecstatic would be an understatement.
On Tuesday afternoon. Shawn Ellis, director of the Whitley County Beds & Britches Etc. (BABE) program found out that members of the Fort Wayne Freedom football team have agreed to not only attend the BABE Extravaganza on June 21 at the YMCA, prepared to meet local children and sign autographs. 
“I’m just so excited,” Ellis said in her office as she looked over a file of information regarding the upcoming event which will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. that day.
Additionally, Ellis learned this week that Parkview Health’s Samaritan will be flying in. “They’ll be there for kids to observe,” she said.
Ellis and a committee including Shawna Mullett, Erica Sefton, Cara Graves and Sarah Schuman have been planning the event for several months now.
The event will include various activities on the YMCA’s soccer field from giant inflatable moonwalks, sack races, a raffle and other fun stuff for families and children of all ages. Senator Gary “Doc” Dillon has agreed to sit in the dunk tank.
The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department will be doing a children’s identification program for the first 40 children in attendance through the SafeAssured ID program under the guidance of reserve deputy Greg Greaf. The cost of the program will underwritten by a local service organization pending final confirmation. Child safety seat checks are planned.
Lunch items will be available for purchase.
While the event is free to the community in hopes of bringing families together in support of BABE, a portion of the event is geared at raising funds…and speaking of gears, there won’t be any…in the bike race.
A bike relay race is planned using cruiser bikes and helmets from The Trailhouse, a bike shop in Winona Lake. Four member relay teams will complete a quarter mile course on the Blue River Trail.
Participation in the bike relay is ranges from a $100-$300 donation per team. Teams must register by May 31. All proceeds from the bike race will support the BABE program, with this event planned as their largest fundraiser of the year.
For more information on registering for the bike relay or regarding the event, contact Shawn Ellis at 244-2820.