Sixty-two runners and walkers and one lone biker took part on Sunday’s 20th annual Breast Cancer Run-Walk-Bike. In addition to helping raise breast cancer awareness, the 5-mile and 1-mile event also raised more than $9,500 for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic’s breast cancer screening, treatment, education and other services the clinic provides at no cost.
“We honored friends and relatives affected by breast cancer, made new friends, broke some personal fitness records and surpassed last year’s fundraising total,” said Heather O’Connor, KBFPC executive director.
With 20 runners and walkers competing in the 1-mile event, the first across that finish line were Parker Lowney, 11, with a time of 7.45, followed closely by his brother, Thatcher Lowney, 9, with a time of 7.49. Lars Bell, 43, was the first adult to complete the 1-mile course, finishing in 9.02.
In the 5-mile event, 42 runners and walkers competed, with Pedro Ochoa, 18, crossing the finish line in first place and with a time of 27.17. The first female to finish was Madeigh Winsor, 19, with a time of 34.35.
The single bike entry was Kathy Simonson, 57, who finished the course in 35.09.
This was the first year the event left city streets behind and took to the beach. A minus 4.3 tide exposed enough sand for Andy Haas of the Kachemak Bay Running Club to set the course before the 9 a.m. start at Mariners Beach. Heavy, dark clouds hung over the area, but the rain held off so only the racers’ feet got wet as they darted across shallow outflows and water-filled rippled sand in a push to the finish line.
“The day was fun and meaningful, no blood but sweat and tears with sand mixed in for good measure,” said Susan Kaplan, KBFPC’s women’s health outreach manager. “The participants, along with sponsoring businesses and volunteers, really turned out for women’s health.”
Kaplan, along with KBFPC board member Mary Lou Kelsey, coordinated the event.
Prior to the start, KBFPC’s medical director, Dr. Hillary Seger, brought clarity to the importance of the annual event with some statistics: 12.3 percent of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Making it more specific, Seger said if you know 10 women, one of the 10 would have the disease.
O’Connor noted the contributions of numerous volunteers “who stepped up to do whatever was needed, whenever it was needed.” She also recognized the efforts of Kaplan and Kelsey.
“We’re so grateful for their creativity, positive energy, dedication and friendship.”
Before Kelsey gave the starting-line countdown, O’Conner asked for a moment of silence for participants to call to mind those who have battled or are battling the disease so “we can carry them in our hearts as we head out.”
With the 2014 Breast Cancer Run celebrating its 20th year, Kaplan said, “We like to remind women of our mantra: every woman every year. Some women use their birthdays as a reminder to go for their yearly well woman visit, but for those that don’t, the annual breast cancer run can be a friendly reminder, as well.”
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.
2014 Breast Cancer Run, Walk, Bike
Sunday, Mariner Beach
Five-mile run, walk — females
34.35 Madeigh Winsor
39.02 Bonnie Lind
39.08 Chessie MacRae
41.55 Rebecca Seneff
42.19 Erika Gavenus
42.36 Katie Gavenus
45,37 Rachel Seneff
45.42 Charity Williams
45.48 Terri Mach
45.56 Oceana Wills
46.01 Rhoslyn Jennings
47.03 Kate von Rekowski
49.25 Rhonwen Jennings
50:19 Christine Anderson
50.39 Judith Steyer
50.39 Maureen Filipek
50.39 Saundra Hudson
51.03 Adision Smith
57.23 Kilan Tanape
66.29 Tammy Ackerman
78.50 Kathy Sarns
78.50 Sonja Blackmon
85.06 Ashley Leonard
86.15 Megan O’Neill
87.36 Diae Little Eagle
94.12 Cheryl Fusco
100.41 Susan Schulmeister
100.41 Sharon Baur
101.23 Trina Wood
101.55 Mandy Wood
101.55 Juanita Wood
102.22 Christine Seville
Five-mile run, walk — males
27.17 Pedro Ochoa
30.57 Connor McCorron
37.21 James McCarron
45.20 Jeff Smith
46.24 Ralph Broshes
50.19 Deland Anderson
74.13 Robert Schulmeister
86.15 Cary Graves
94.12 Bo Fusco
102.22 Noah Seville
One-mile run, walk — females
12.54 Channing Lowney
13.03 Nuala Stenson
13.52 Shay Lowney
13.53 Deb Lowney
15.49 Kathy Donlan
16.16 Colleen Cary
16.35 Barbara Leichtung
17.00 Hillary Seger
21.03 Margo Curtis
21.03 Deb Cox
21.34 Anna Bosin
One-mile run, walk — males
7.45 Parker Lowney
7.49 Thatcher Lowney
9.02 Lars Bell
15:57 Jeff Donlan
17.00 Fritz Seger
17.00 Carl Seger
18.56 Leland Curtis
19.40 Scott Connelly
21.34 T. Sam Walton
Bike
Sunday’s Breast Cancer Run was the first to be held on Mariners Beach. -Photo by McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News
Channing Lowney, 7, and Nuala Stenson, 6, dash to fourth and fifth place, respectively in the one-mile course.-Photo by McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News
