Skies filled with kites, hope at Soaring Hearts fundraiser at Headlands Beach

May 18—Blue skies over Headlands Beach State Park were filled with colorful kites of all shapes and sizes on May 18 while the sand was filled with fliers of all skill levels and ages and an array of interested onlookers.

Mentor-based Crossroads Health is an organization seriously committed to offering recovery and mental health services to all people at all different times of their lives.

However, the Soaring Hearts biennial fundraiser for the non-profit was a celebration and something of a beach party.

"When we came up with this idea, we wanted to do something to bring everyone together — all ages at all stages of their life," Crossroads Associate Director of Development Angie Rachuba said. "We really wanted to do something to celebrate and show that mental health doesn't have to be scary. And honestly, who doesn't find joy in flying a kite?"

Aside from a wide range of kites soaring high above Lake Erie, the event — which was trying to set a new record of more than 2,000 kites flying simultaneously — featured food trucks, beach karaoke, games and a DJ.

The organizers and participants also enjoyed nearly perfect weather with just enough wind to send the stars of the show up, up and away into the Mentor sky.

Nancy and Larry Stewart of Concord Township weren't flying kites, but they were enjoying themselves nonetheless watching the show from a dune.

"It is beautiful weather and we've never been here for this event and absolutely it adds a lot that it is for such a good cause," Nancy said. "We don't really fly kites, but they are beautiful to watch."

The Mentor beach proved to be an ideal place to fly a kite two years ago when kite flyers attempted to break a longtime world record for Most Kites Flown Simultaneously. That record was set in 2011 when Palestinian children flew 12,350 kites at the same time from a beach in the Gaza Strip — an effort organized by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency. Kites had to stay aloft for 30 seconds to qualify and 2,000 other kites were disqualified.

The Mentor effort, organized two years ago by Crossroads Health with help from the Guinness Book of World Records and dubbed Soaring Hearts, set a local record for 2,000 kites. That was far short of the world record, but it drew thousands of kite flyers, onlookers, photographers and others to the mile-long stretch along the shore of Lake Erie.

Rachuba said while numbers would not be immediately available, the goal for the 2024 event was to surpass the 2,000 threshold during an official count about midway through the day.

Crossroads Chief Development Officer James Wyman declared the first event a success, and the second rendition certainly didn't appear to change anyone's opinion.

"The concept for Soaring Hearts directly aligns our outreach efforts and special events with our community-based mission, vision and values," he said. "One of our core values is belonging, and I cannot think of a more inclusive event — an event for all ages at all stages of life."

It was free to attend Soaring Hearts and fly a kite, but many teams were formed by sponsor groups who paid $20 for VIP entry and received a commemorative T-shirt and donations were accepted for kites given away by the organization.

The 2022 Soaring Hearts event earned $100,000 for Crossroads.

Chris Higgs of Mantua had a plethora of reasons to drive a considerable distance to participate.

The former firefighter is not only a member of the Black Swamp Kite Club, but his ex-wife suffered from dementia and mental health issues and he recognizes the importance of the work that Crossroads provides.

"Flying kites is a hobby of mine that I truly enjoy, but the work that Crossroads does is so important and it is an organization I am happy to support," Higgs said.