Hamilton Area YMCA benefitting its Healthy Living Programs raised $7,000 at its 11th annual Run to Raise 5K on Saturday Oct. 24.
HAMILTON - The Hamilton Area YMCA raised around $7,000 to benefit its Healthy Living Programs at the 11th annual Run to Raise 5K on Oct. 24 at Veterans Park.
More than 200 participants came out to the event, which featured a 5K run open to all who registered, a 2-mile walk for those who opted not to run and a kid's 1-mile run for children 12 and under, Hamilton Area YMCA Associate Branch Director Joe Fuhrman said.
Hamilton Area YMCA CEO David Kisselback said the Healthy Living Programs - formed 18 months ago - serves local residents looking to live a healthier lifestyle. While some of these programs focus on weight loss, others help people diagnosed with serious diseases such as cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and diabetes.
"And those are just a few," Kisselback said.
All of the programs are offered free of charge, so Kisselback said the Hamilton Area YMCA used this year's Run to Raise 5K to fund the programs.
"Before it (Run to Raise 5K) was more of a fun event," Kisselback said. "Now it's more of a fundraising event."
Participants were asked - though not required - to do their own fundraising within the community before Oct. 24, either individually or in teams.
This year a Run to Raise sweatshirt was given to teams and individuals who raised $100 or more.
MORE: Hamilton Area Y raises more than $200K in fundraising campaign
"We just started these Healthy Living Programs," Kisselback said. "So we had to ask ourselves, 'How do we raise money in order to keep offering them?'"
He said the funds for the programs come from grant money and events like the Run to Raise 5K.
Fuhrman said Pat Bavoso raised the most money for the event and Healthy Living, bringing in more than $500.
"It was awesome," Fuhrman said.
Fuhrman also mentioned another new program - Couch to 5K - whose participants made their debut at the Run to Raise event.
Fuhrman said Couch to 5K was formed just after Labor Day of this year to train those who have never competed in a 5K how to do so.
He said the nine members in the program trained on their own for seven weeks while also meeting weekly to discuss strategies and progress.
"And we'll continue this program for other 5K events in the community," Fuhrman said.
The top runners who took home trophies at the 2015 Run to Raise are:
- Top overall male - Jim Burns: 22 min.
- Top overall female - Jennifer Martino: 23 min.
- Top in 12 and under - Maximus Dombra: 27 min.
- Top in 80 and older - 83-year-old Rita Alles: 46 min.
- Top in Couch to 5K - Celia Dombra: 30 min., 19 sec.
- Top in 12 and under one-mile run - Christopher DiMarco: 10 min., 36 sec.
Fun fact: Celia Dombra is the mother of Maximus Dombra.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.