- Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 October 2018 19:50
By Jill Runfola
The 32nd Annual Charleroi Little Great Race was held on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Runners and walkers lined up at 1 Chamber Plaza in Charleroi for the start of the 5K.
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| Runners line up for the Charleroi Little Great Race on 9/8. |
Each registrant received a free tote bag and t-shirt. Food was available at the Charleroi Trustees Park and included: bananas, donuts, cookies, juice, pizza, and sandwiches. Funds raised from the event are used for local charitable causes and for worthy recipients in need.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years,” said Race Chairman Vic Vitale. “It’s enjoyable, and it brings the community together.”
The race, organized by the Little Great Race Committee since 1992, had a total of 380 participants despite the terribly rainy weather. The Charleroi Little Great Race was named after the Pittsburgh Great Race of 1986, and the first one in Charleroi was held on Sept. 24, 1987.
Winners of this year’s race were as follows:
Top Male Runner: Emery Strotman
Top Female Runner: Erika Suhy,
Top Male Walker: Gene Belczyk
Top Female Walker: Sarah Donley
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| Pictured (from L-R): Deidra West and Aubrey Martin, both 11 years old with Marnie Martin. Deidra took 5th place and Aubrey took 4th place in the event. |
This year’s Adam Boyd Scholarship went to Victoria Anders, a Charleroi High School graduate, who attends Messiah College. The $1,000 award was accepted by her father Greg Anders.
Vitale also noted that Ian Anderson will be given $1,000 of the proceeds. Anderson is a Charleroi police officer and a family man with children who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Donations will also be made to the Mon Valley YMCA.
