2010 Teal Ribbon Run/Walk

“Fighting Ovarian Cancer … One Step at a Time” is the theme for Caring Together’s Teal Ribbon Run/Walk.  The 2010 Run/Walk will bring us at least 125,000 steps closer to our goal!  Although the final total may not be known for several months, it is estimated that the 9th Annual Teal Ribbon Run/Walk will raise at least $125,000!  In nine years, the Teal Ribbon Run/Walk has raised more than $600,000 for ovarian cancer research and other projects.

On Sunday morning, September 12, 2010, it was cloudy and cool in Albany’s beautiful Washington Park.  It was perfect weather for the 5 K run and 1 mile walk.  The rain held off until Sunday afternoon.

Over 1400 people participated in the 2010 Teal Ribbon Run/Walk.  375 people registered to run the 5 K course.  Over 1020 people registered for the 1 mile walk.  At least 100 volunteers, including 3 members of Albany’s 2010 Tulip Court, were on hand to insure that the event ran smoothly. 

Fifty-plus teams participated in the Teal Ribbon Run/Walk.  Each team represented at least one woman whose life had been touched by ovarian cancer.  To view Anne Lawton’s Smilebox slide show featuring many of the teams participating in the 2010 Run/Walk, click here. 

The Teal Ribbon Run/Walk was a colorful, upbeat, family-friendly event featuring “Cupcake” the clown, balloons, face-painting, music, food, door prizes and many awards. 
   

“Cupcake” the clown with a young participant & her balloon sculpture	A volunteer with some of the many balloons that festooned the Lake House	The teal ribbon was a popular face - painting motif

Benita Zahn, TV-13 news anchor and health reporter, ran in the 5 K race then acted as emcee for the awards ceremony.  During the awards ceremony, she and Pam Robbins, Teal Ribbon Run/Walk Director, presented awards to individuals and teams in the many categories. 

Benita Zahn running   in the 5 K race	Benita Zahn & Pam Robbins	The Awards Table

The top three women to finish the 5 K run were Beth Stalker, 51, of Burnt Hills in a time of 19 minutes and 15 seconds (19:15), Ellen Predmore, 52, of Ballston Lake (20:41), and Jillian Salmon, 15, of Mechanicville (20:48).  Amazingly, the top three women were all members of Gwen’s Peeps.

BethStalker, 1st place female	Ellen Predmore, 2nd place female	Beth & Ellen with Jillian Salmon, 3rd place female

 
 The top three male runners were Stephen Siebrecht, 31, of Delmar in 16 minutes and 49 seconds (16:49), Bob Kellogg, 45, of Queensbury (16:52), and Justin Pangie, 25, of Ballston Spa (17:15).

Stephen Siebrecht, 1st place male	Stephen Siebrecht & Bob Kellogg  runner  during the 5K race	Bob Kellogg, 2nd place male	Justin Pangie, 3rd place male

In the 1-14 age category, the female winner was Shea Foley, 13, from Slingerlands (21:23) and the male winner was Keith Machabee, 14, Delmar (18:52). In the 15-19 age category, the female winner was Bethany Biernat, 17, Schenectady (21:40) and the male winner was  Xavier Baggetta, 17, Rotterdam (17:53).

Shea Foley	Keith Machabee	Bethany Biernat	Xavier Baggetta

In the 20-29 age category, the female winner was Kara Michaels, 22, Albany (23:54) and the male winner was Alex Grout, 24, Williamsburg, Virginia (18:14).  In the 30-39 category, the female winner was Karen Skiba, 39, Troy (23:13) and the male winner was Chad Davey, 32, Delmar (17:21).

Kara Michaels	Alex Grout	Karen Skiba	Chad Davey

In the 40-49 age category, the female winner was Veronica Armbruster, 44, Selkirk (21:48) and the male winner was Craig Tynan, 40, Schnectady (17:32).  In the 50-59 age category, the female winner was Kathie Hillard, 58, Latham (24:47) and the male winner was Bill Herkenham, 52, Charlton (18:49).

Veronica Armbruster	Kathie Hillard	Bill Herkenham

In the 60-69 age category, the female winner was Marianne Townley, 60, Schenectady (27:11) and the male winner was Paul Turner, 61, Delmar (21:45).  In the 70-99 category, the female winner was Mary Nagle, 75, Nassau (41:26) and the male winner was Richard Eckhardt, 76, Albany (33:15).

Marianne Townley	Paul Turner	Mary Nagle	Richard Eckhardt

Awards were given for the top five fund-raising  individuals and the top five fund-raising teams.

The top five fund-raising individuals were Maureen Moran of Team Moran in honor of Maureen Moran, Elizabeth McGrath of Patti’s Power Club in memory of Patricia McGrath Haight, Yvonne Proulx of Jean’s Team/Burnt Hills Optical in memory of Jean Bergstrom, James Foley of Mind Over Matter in memory of Ginny Foley, and David Mysliwiec of Gwen’s Peep in honor of Gwen Berardi Mysliwiec.  

Maureen Moran	Elizabeth McGrath	Yvonne Proulx

Jim Foley	Dave Mysliwiec with Gwen

The top five fund-raising teams were Mind Over Matter in memory of Ginny Foley, Team Moran in honor of Maureen Moran, Pennies from Heaven in memory of Penny Jones, Patti’s Power Club in memory of Patricia McGrath Haight, and Gwen’s Peeps in honor of Gwen Berardi Mysliwiec.

Members of Mind Over Matter celebrating their win

Team Moran	Pennies from Heaven	Patti’s Power Club

Gwen’s Peeps

The top three teams with the most runners were Gwen’s Peeps in honor of Gwen Berardi Mysliwiec, Mind Over Matter in memory of Ginny Foley, and Team Stryjek in honor of Sandi Stryjek.

Gwen’s Peeps	Mind Over Matter	Team Stryjek

The top teams with the most walkers were Benjamin’s Brigade in memory of Allyson Benjamin with 70, Gwen’s Peeps in honor of Gwen Berardi Mysliwiec with 50, and Denise’s Defeaters in honor of Denise Jahn and Mind Over Matter in memory of Ginny Foley, both with 48. 

Benjamin’s Brigade	Gwen’s Peeps	Mind Over Matter	Denise’s Defeaters

A special award was given to Team Fran for coming close in several categories.  Mary Davis won the quilt donated by Denise Jahn of Denise’s Defeaters, and two happy young ladies won the dragons hand made by Flit McElligott.

Team Fran	Mary Davis, winner of Denise Jahn’s quilt	Michaela O’Brien, winner of “Bluebell”	Tess McAneny, winner of “Punkin”

A giant THANK YOU! to all who participated, volunteered, sponsored, and donated to this year’s event!  Click here to view the major sponsors of the 2010 Teal Ribbon Run/Walk.

Members of the Run/Walk Committee & volunteers in front of the Caring Together quilt

The funds raised from this year’s event will be used to support national and local grant projects.  The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation/Caring Together NY Ovarian Cancer Research Grant has awarded $50,000 to Dr. Thomas Krivak from Magee Women’s Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.  A $50,000 Lynne Cohen and Caring Together Project for Women with High Cancer Risk Grant supports Dr. Stepanie Blank’s work at Bellevue & NYU Langone Medical Centers in New York City.  Locally, the proceeds will be used to continue funding the Caring Together Ovarian Cancer Diagnostic Funds at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany Medical Center and Glens Falls Hospital. Click here to see your donation at work.

Some of the survivors in front of the Caring Together Quilt

Please join us for the 10th Annual Teal Ribbon Run/Walk on Sunday morning, September 18, 2011.  The 5 K run and 1 mile walk will begin and end at the Lake House in Albany’s beautiful Washington Park.  Paved roads throughout.  There will be awards, prizes, raffles, children’s activities, and ovarian cancer awareness materials.  Registration materials will be posted on this website in the spring.  Online donations will be collected through FirstGiving.com/CaringTogether.  If you would like to volunteer to help at the 2011 Run/Walk, click here.

For more photos of the 2010 Teal Ribbon Run/Walk, click here.  Photos provided by Jack Bryant, Sue Gersten, Anne Lawton and Maureen O’Brien.