Mission accomplished: Justin Osmond crosses 250-mile finish line for 25 kids

ST. GEORGE – The finish line of his 250-mile run was in sight. Justin Osmond raised his arms in triumph as he passed the crowd who had gathered at the Crosby Family Confluence Park, 2099 S. Convention Center Drive in St. George, Saturday. As he crossed the line, family members and friends crowded around him as he broke down in tears.

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Super Hear-O!
Super Hear-O!

Justin Osmond’s run had a purpose: to provide 25 children in the Washington County School District new and upgraded hearing aids, thanks to the financial backing of his sponsors, and the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund.

“Someone had put pictures of all the kids along the trail,” Osmond said, describing the last mile of his run. “Their name, their age – and that hit me, that hit me hard. So I started thinking about the kids, and of course, I had a meltdown.”

Justin Osmond’s wife Kristi said, “Every time he’d pass a picture of a kid, he’d run past and high-five it, that was really cool.”

Justin Osmond’s journey began May 2 in Ephraim. Six days of rain, snow, and one day of sun later he made it into St. George Saturday morning, the 11th anniversary of his grandmother Olive Osmond’s death.

“I had a life-changing moment as we were coming over the summit out of Panguitch,” Justin Osmond’s father, Merrill Osmond, said, “and, as he ran those 14 miles straight up that incline, I had to say to myself, ‘If that man can do it, I can do anything.’”

L-R: Justin Osmond with aunt, and celebrity, Marie Osmond.
L-R: Justin Osmond with aunt, and celebrity, Marie Osmond.

“I’m so proud of my nephew,” Marie Osmond, Justin Osmond’s aunt, said. “He’s a phenomenal kid that proves there is no such thing as a handicap.”

“I joined him just up the street about 2 1/2 miles,” St. George Mayor Jon Pike said, adding that Justin Osmond was the driving force behind the finish.

“Whose idea was this?” Justin Osmond said jokingly as he took the stage after cooling down.”Two hundred and fifty miles, 25 kids, mission accomplished!”

The crowd roared their approval.

“I’m amazed that someone is so unselfish, so dedicated, so committed to do something this good for all of our kids,” Washington County School District Superintendent Larry Bergeson said, “it is awesome.”

Washington County School District Foundation Director Pam Graf agreed.

Justin Osmond.
Justin Osmond.

“When Justin came and told us he wanted to run 250 miles for our students,” Graf said, “it touched my heart.”

“There were many times I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Justin Osmond said of his run. “But I kept thinking of the kids, and they kept me going.”

As runners gathered for a 5K run before Justin Osmond’s arrival, rain was still falling. The rain stopped minutes before the run began.

The motto of the day was “Super Hear-O’s” and children of all ages were in superhero costumes. Superman, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and Wonder Woman were a few of the costumes seen during the event.

Justin Osmond was diagnosed at age 2 with a 90 percent hearing loss in both ears. After many years of therapy and utilizing modern hearing aid technology, he is able to hear and speak with conviction about his passion. Justin Osmond is the CEO of the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund, which he founded in 2010.

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