FIGHTING OVARIAN CANCER…ONE STEP AT A TIME

Survivor Andrea Annese-Como & a “Team Lucky” teammate run in the 5 K race

Caring Together’s 8th Annual Teal Ribbon Run/Walk to fight ovarian cancer exceeded everyone’s expectations!

A record number of people participated in the 2009 Run/Walk. There were more teams representing women who have battled ovarian cancer than ever before. And, in a year when financial difficulties were everywhere, a record amount of money was raised for ovarian cancer research, education and awareness, and support - $115,000!

On Sunday morning, September 13, 2009, the Teal Ribbon Run/Walk was held in Albany’s beautiful Washington Park. During the pre-race registration period, clowns “Cupcake” and “Purcee” entertained the crowd by creating colorful balloon sculptures.

Clowns “Cupcake” & “Purcee” with survivor Diana Burns	A member of “Burns Bandits” wearing her balloon sculpture

A group of Girl Scouts painted popular motifs on many smiling faces. Craig Rosati, from FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), was the pre-race emcee. Music was provided by B95.5 FM.

Members of “Team Sylvia” get “painted”	Craig Rosati from FORCE & Jillian Shuhart from B95.5 FM

Albany’s 2009 Tulip Queen, Juliana Hernandez, and members of the Tulip Court joined more than 50 other   volunteers to ensure that the Run/Walk went smoothly. Benita Zahn, Anchor and Health Reporter from WNYT - TV Channel 13, ran in the 5 K race and emceed the awards ceremony. 

Albany’s 2009 Tulip Court	Benita Zahn finishing the 5 K run

At the start of the awards ceremony, Caring Together presented gifts of gratitude and appreciation to three special people who help to make the Teal Ribbon Run/Walk such a huge success each year.  On behalf of all the members of Caring Together, Diana Burns acknowledged and thanked Pam Robbins, Teal Ribbon Run/Walk Director, Jody Zabel, Run/Walk Registrar, and Benita Zahn, Run/Walk Emcee and tireless friend of the ovarian cancer community.

Caring Together thanks Pam Robbins, Run/Walk Director	Caring Together thanks Jody Zabel, Run/Walk Registrar
Caring Together thanks Benita Zahn for her continued support	Survivors Jeri Puccio, Maureen Moran & Irene Buell express their thanks

During the awards ceremony, many awards and prizes were distributed.

The top three male finishers in the 5 K run were Anthony Giuliano, age 30, of Albany, with a time of 16 minutes, 22 seconds (16:22); John Noonan, 49, of Ballston Spa (17:30), and Chad Davey, 31, of Selkirk (17:33).

Anthony Giuliano, 1st place in the 5 K race	John Noonan, 2nd place overall	Chad Davey, 3rd place overall

The top three female finishers in the 5 K run were Beth Stalker, age 50, of Burnt Hills with a time of 20 minutes,   12 seconds (20:12); R. Wegman, 22, of Delmar (20:28); and Colleen Brackett, 48, of Voorheesville (20:33).

Beth Stalker, 1st place female finisher	R. Wegman, 2nd place female	Colleen Brackett, 3rd place female

• In the 1-14 age category, winners  were Shea Foley, 12, of Slingerlands (22:26) and Connor Armbruster, 14, of Selkirk (21:47).
• In the 15-20 age category, winners were Alana Brandon, 17, of Greenville (21:41) and Jonathon Flint, 17, of Queensbury (19:17).
• In the 21-29 age category, winners were Jennifer Kulzer, 22, of East Greenbush (22:09) and John Hole, 27, of Albany (19:55).
• In the 30-39 category, winners were Margarita Limmerman, 37, of Albany (21:46) and Parker Morse, 35, of Watervliet (18:31).
• In the 40-49 category, winners were Veronica Armbruster, 43, of Selkirk (20:46) and Michael Stalker, 47, of Burnt Hills (19:20).
• In the 50-59 category, winners were Joyce Goodrich, 51, of Glenville (22:16) and Thomas Locascio, 51, of Albany (19:39).
• In the 60-69 category, winners were Lichu Sloan, 61, of Clifton Park (27:11) and Paul Turner, 60, of Delmar (21:46).
• In the 70-99 category, winners were Mary Nagle, 74, of Nassau (41:42) and Robert Thien, 75, of Glenmont (27:34).

For complete race results, click here. Photos of the winners in each age category appear in the Photo Gallery for the 2009 Teal Ribbon Run/Walk.

Awards were also presented to the teams that raised the most money. “Benjamin’s Brigade” was number one with $6572! Second was “Patti’s Power Club” ($5345) followed by “Mind Over Matter” ($4879), “Laura’s Lucky Stars “ ($4670), and “Team Moran” ($4620).

Allyson Benjamin for “Benjamin’s Brigade” in honor of Allyson Benjamin	Elizabeth McGrath for “Patti’s Power Club” in memory of Patti McGrath Haight
Ginny Foley for “Mind Over Matter” in honor of Ginny Foley	Gary Kerzic for “Laura’s Lucky Stars” in memory of Laura Kerzic & Maureen Moran for “Team Moran” in honor of Maureen Moran

The top five fund-raising individuals were Elizabeth McGrath of “Patti’s Power Club” with $5345, Allyson Benjamin of “Benjamin’s Brigade” ($4757), Maureen Moran of “Team Moran” ($4480), Yvonne Proulx of “Jean’s Team/Burnt Hills Optical” ($3491), and Barry Berberich of “TOFR” ($3220).

Elizabeth McGrath for “Patti’s Power Club” in memory of Patti McGrath Haight	Allyson Benjamin for “Benjamin’s Brigade” in honor of Allyson Benjamin & a member of “Jean’s Team/Burnt Hills Optical” in memory of Jean Bergstrom
Maureen Moran for “Team Moran” in honor of Maureen Moran	Barry Berberich for “Team TOFR” in honor of Barbara Berberich & memory of Fran Najamin

The teams with the most runners were “Team Fran” with 19, “Gwen’s Peeps” with 18, and “Benjamin’s Brigade” with 16.

Fran Cocozza for “Team Fran” in honor of Fran Cocozza	Gwen Berardi-Mysliwiec for “Gwen’s Peeps” in honor of Gwen Berardi-Mysliwiec	Allyson Benjamin for “Benjamin’s Brigade”  in honor of Allyson Benjamin

The teams with the most walkers were “Mind Over Matter” with 41, “Benjamin’s Brigade” with 37, and “Pennies From Heaven” with 32.

Ginny Foley for “Mind Over Matter” in honor of Ginny Foley	Allyson Benjamin of “Benjamin’s Brigade” in honor of Allyson Benjamin	E. Stewart Jones for “Pennies From Heaven”  in memory of Penny Jones

Awards were also presented to “Gloria Berg’s Team” and to “Flit’s Troop.”

“Gloria Berg’s Team” in memory of Gloria Berg	Flit McElligott for “Flit’s Troop” in honor of Flit McElligott

A giant THANK YOU! to all who participated, volunteered, sponsored, or donated to this year’s event! Click here to view the major sponsors of the 2009 Teal Ribbon Run/Walk.

Members of the Run/Walk Committee & volunteers with the sponsor banner

The funds raised from this year’s event will be used to support two national and one 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 Fund. Click here to see your donation at work.  

Some of the survivors with Benita Zahn in front of the Caring Together Quilt

Please join us for the 9th Annual Teal Ribbon Run/Walk on Sunday morning, September 12, 2010. 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 2010 Run/Walk, click here. 

For more photos of the 2009 Teal Ribbon Run/Walk, click here. Photos provided by Jack Bryant, Diana Burns, Sue Gertsen, and Maureen O’Brien.