The Tucker Community Foundation’s ‘Run for It’ again surpassed expectations as more than 1,460 participants representing 90 community causes walked and ran for it.
This year’s event raised over $230,000 for local charities throughout the foundation’s region – Barbour, Grant, Mineral, Preston, Pocahontas, Randolph and Tucker counties, W.Va. and Garrett County, Md.
Anne Wardwell, chair of Run For It, was excited about the number of nonprofits who participated in Saturday’s event.
“This year we had a record of 90 organizations who registered as teams for this fantastic event,” she said. “Rather than groups asking for money for support, these groups engage with the communities and ask other people to come out and walk or run for their cause.”
Kelly Stadelman, interim executive director of the Tucker Community Foundation, credited the numerous volunteers along with team captains for the event’s success.
“I have to give the team captains credit for rallying so much support for their organizations,” she said. “They work hard raising money for team sponsorship which they can leverage to get award money.
“We also have more than 80 volunteers who freely give up their time to help with the two-day event. We couldn’t do it without them and all their hard work.”
David Cooper, president of the Board of Directors for the Tucker Community Foundation, and Brad Moore handed out medals and money to the winning individuals and teams. Also helping was Bob Boone of the McDonough Foundation who distributed $25,000 to the charities. Tucker County Commissioner Lowell Moore distributed $5,000 and Barbour County Commissioner Susie Cvechko who distributed $3,500.
Derek Bolyard was the first male to cross the finish line. He won the 5k race with a time of 17:56 winning $2,000 for the Tucker County Young Life. Martha Nelson was the first female to cross the finish line. With a time of 19:05, she won $2,000 for the Heart of the Highlands.
First to finish 2k awards sponsored by St. George Medical Clinic: Fastest, Darren Bradley won $500 and his daughter, Makayla Bradley won $500, both for Saddles and Smiles and Maddison Mullenax won $500 for Tucker Runners; Aaron Kahle won $400 for Animal Friends of Doggy Sods; Hillary Bright won $400 for Preston County Parks and Recreation; Alexander Lewis won $300 for the Aurora Project; and Emma Ujvagi won $300 for Mountain Laurel Learning Cooperative.
Cortland Acres sponsored the over 80 awards. Winning in this category was Gerald Carter $200 for the Canaan Valley Ski Patrol, Barbara Crist $200 for Pocahontas Senior Center, and Juanita Nestor $200 for Team WV Caring.
Other top awards included Best Team Effort. First place went to Challenged Athletes, second place Philippi Bookworms, third place WV Caring, fourth place Team Pioneer and fifth place Fresh Canvas.
For most money raised, First place went to Mountaintop Readers, second place Friends of Cheat, third place Davis Riverfront Ramblers, fourth place Belington Public Library and fifth place Highlands Trail Foundation.
Stadelman said the team award totals will be tallied and announced to team captains by mid-October. For a complete list of the 5k competitive results visit www.tuckerfoundation.net/run
Major Run For It sponsors include: St. George Medical Clinic, Dominion Foundation, FirstEnergy, NextEra, Canaan Valley Resort, Run Jeb Run, Barbour County Community Foundation, Citizens Bank of WV, Grant County Bank, Cortland Acres, Tucker County Commission, Pocahontas County Commission, Randolph County Commission, Barbour County Commission, Preston County Commission, Grant County Commission, Garrett County Commission, Mineral County Commission, Mike Ross, Inc., PCM Industries, Kingsford Manufacturing, Mountain Valley Bank, Davis Health System, Best of Canaan, State Farm, GJ Garton, Preston-Taylor Health Services, United Financial Center, First United Bank & Trust, Hinkle-Fenner Funeral Home, Edward Jones Investment, Davis Dental, Miners & Merchants, Canaan Valley Lawn & Landscape, Scott & Nypl CPAs, McClain Printing, West Virginia Paving, LaMora Household, Lot3r, Big John’s Family Fixin’s, Piccolo Paulas, Mountaintop Realty, Grant Memorial Hospital, Beall Household, Boyce Household, Sirianni’s, Landis Realty, White Grass, Fargo Insurance Group, White Grass, Blackwater Outdoor Adventures, Hinchcliff, Hanlon Household and Mon Health.
The Tucker Community Foundation manages more than 130 endowed funds providing annual scholarships and grants to nonprofits and charitable causes throughout the eight-county service area. Inspired by the flood of 1985, the mission of the Foundation is to create opportunities for the communities we serve. For more information on Run For It or to learn about the foundation, visit www.tuckerfoundation.net