By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On a damp Saturday morning, the second annual Dash for Dane Family Day and 5K Trail Run was held at the Trustees’ lovely Powisset Farm in celebration of the greatly missed Dane Austin Kasschau of Dover, who struggled for his whole life with Crohn’s disease and passed away in January 2022 at 39 years old, after a nine-month battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer. At the May 18 event, money was raised for the support of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation while people of all ages enjoyed family-friendly activities.
In her remarks to the crowd before the race began, Dane was remembered by his wife Lissy King Kasschau as “a man who made people comfortable.” Lissy added that he “made up games, love to run 5K races, shared joy with those around him, and loved meeting and helping people.”
Before and after the race, adults and kids enjoyed socializing, playing cornhole, doing crafts, having snacks and pizza, listening to the DJ, and spinning a wheel to win prizes.
In the 5K race, approximately 200 adults and children ran at their own paces from the inflated orange starting line, through the Powisett Farm fields, across the street to the Noanet Woodlands and into Hale Reservation, before returning to the finish line.
The 5K raised money to fight the disease that took the life of Dane Kasschau, a terribly missed and exemplary man who clearly touched his community. The event also encouraged participants to go on to live healthy lives through running and spending time with family on a beautiful farm. Together, the participants continued Dane’s legacy.
