by Bea Peterson
Gretchen Yonconish, Katie DiMaggio and Charity King had so much fun at the Freihofer’s Run for Women they decided to put on a race of their own to raise money for Relay for Life. Months of effort went into organizing the event, which was to be open to runners and walkers. [private]Their primary goal was to have 50 participants. When the returns started coming in and they were up to 70 participants, they set a new goal. That goal was 100 participants. On Saturday, April 20, race day, they picked up several more runners and walkers. The final total was 62 runners and 40 walkers and 26 youngsters for the Kids Race. Seven participants paid but did not show. The organizers’ goal was achieved with 102 adult participants. The money earned for Relay was $2,800. Racers were from Albany, Bennington and Whitingham, VT and, overwhelmingly, from Hoosick and Hoosick Falls.
Relay For Life
Yonconish has been participating in the Bennington, VT Relay for Life for 15 years. The Relay is important to her because, she said, she has several family members and friends who have been diagnosed with cancer. Some have not survived. And the environment she works in at Village Primary Care inspires her to continue to support the Relay. “The first year I was part of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center team,” she said. “The second year I talked my family into being part of the SVMC team, and the next year I decided we should have our own team.”
Since then Gretchen, her family and friends have been part of Healers for Here. Their goal is to raise as much money as possible for the Relay. Every year they try different fundraisers to add to their Relay walking goals.
Sponsors Make It Possible
Gretchen said their sponsors made it all possible. Sponsors were the Town of Hoosick, Taconic, Joshua Case, Village Primary Care, Barbecue Recreation, Maggie’s Beauty Shop, Colonial Lamp Shoppe, Pizza Bella, Jean’s Place, the Polish Hall, New 2 U Consignment, Riverside Laundromat, Bagels ‘n’ Brew, Bennington Sports ‘n’ Graphics, Charity’s Hair Studio, Amy Gifford, Morcon, Inc. and the Falls Diner. She gives another shout out to all the volunteers who helped make the event such a success. “I’m very proud of all of them,” she said.
The Healers team isn’t finished yet. They plan more fundraisers, including coupons for the Pizza Hut in Bennington that gives 20 percent of the total spent to the Healers. There will be a Lottery Ticket Basket Raffle and maybe Basket Bingo in early June. The team is not resting on its laurels. They want more. The more they raise, the closer the day when a cure for cancer will be found.
The overnight Relay for Life in Bennington will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23.
The Race
First across the finish line was Mike Rushman of Acton, MA, with a time of 21:54. The first woman across the line was Jasmine Hollister, 25:02.
Medal Winners By Age
14 & Under
Damir Wade 25:10
Jennifer Sargood 31:25
15-19
Jake Meerwarth 26:56
Jasmine Hollister 25:02
20-29
Mike Rushman 21:54
Chelsea Briggs 26:47
30-39
Adam Steele 23:38
Corie Linenhan 25:56
40-49
Jon Skelly 23:21
Kelli Grennen 29:22
50-59
Art Hyde 25:36
Terry Hinchliffe 27:48
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