by Bea Peterson
The bank thermometer read 40 degrees as runners and walkers warmed up to Zumba before the start of the Lace Up for the Cure 5k race on Saturday, April 19. Gretchen Yonconish and the Healers from Here Relay for Life team hoped to sign up 150 runners and walkers for the event. Instead they had 227 registered participants. [private]Last year was the first year they held the 5k, and they had more than 150 participants and raised $2,500. This year’s race and walk, in loving memory of Laura Larwood, raised $5,000!
This year there were teams, other than Healers from Here, that participated. There was a group with pink tie-dyed shirts and pink hair, plus the Frying Dutchman, made up of Eamonn and Kyle DeGraf and other members of the family walking in memory of Eamonn’s grandfather and Kyle’s father. Team Lackey’s T-shirts sported three rules, #1 Never give up, #2 always follow Rule 1, #3 Never forget Rules #1 and #2.
Race Winners
First male across the finish line was Alex Romac with a time of 21:59. Close on his heels was Brittany Pine, the first woman across the line, with a time of 22:11.
Winners in age categories were:
15-19 – Rebecca Romac 23.33 and Thomas Tifft 28.35
20-29 – Kaila Matatt 25:46 and Zachary Wicks 22:08
30-39 – Sarah Scott 23:27 and Ryan Shea 26:57
40-49 – Andrea Malinowski 30:00 and John Skelly 23:28
50-59 – Kathy Moses 42:40 and Michael Romac 26:46
Eat Out For The Relay
The Annual Relay for Life in Bennington will be held Saturday, June 21, into Sunday, June 22. This year Yonconish is Fundraising Chair of the Relay Committee. She invites folks to eat out in Bennington for the Relay. Chili’s will donate 10% of the profits from 11 am to 11 pm on Thursday, April 24. Certificates can be picked up at Village Primary Care to turn in at the restaurant.
On April 30 Pizza Hut will donate 20% to the Relay on meals served from 5 to 8 pm, and on May 8 Friendly’s will donate 20% from 5 to 8 pm.
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