Get Your Rear in Gear event numbers are up and growing!
Lafayette, Louisiana – February 28th: Nearly 500 people gathered at the University of Louisiana Lafayette campus for the 2nd annual 5K event. Over $3,000 in individual and Team donations were collected. Congratulations to our largest Team, the Running Saints; the Top Fundraising Team, the C Word; and our largest Individual Fundraiser, Morgan Fogelman. Top 5K finishers for men and women were Pete Stelly and Tia Sims respectively.
Raleigh, North Carolina – March 7th: A gorgeous 80 degree day welcomed over 600 participants and 35 Teams to this first time event. Donations of over $6,500 were contributed, along with the nearly $30,000 in underwriting from many generous sponsors, including our presenting sponsor, Raleigh Endocopy. Many thanks to Olympus for providing access to their Mobile Showroom for participants. Congratulations to our largest Team, Digestive HealthCare, who also was a sponsor; the Top Fundraising Team, Big Dog’s Fight; and our largest Individual Fundraiser, Robin Fuller-Jones.
New Braunfels/Central Texas – March 15th: The 3rd annual event in Texas moved to it’s new location at Landa Park in New Braunfels in 2009 and despite some cold and damp weather, welcomed over 500 participants for its 5K run and walk along with the new10K Run. Wonderful BBQ from sponsor HEB awaited participants as they finished, along with organic fruit and Sweet Tea and wonderful fellowship. Congratulations to all the top finishers from the 10K and 5K, and many thanks to Bryan Joyce, a survivor who not only helped with the planning of this year’s event, but organized the Top Fundraising Team. Our Largest Team was the Derriere Extraordinaires and our Top Fundraising Individual was Susan Farrell.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – March 22nd: This brand new 5K Run and 2 Mile Remembrance walk became the biggest new event for the Coalition in 2009, welcoming over 1,600 participants in this, its inaugural year, which included nearly 50 Teams. Teams and individuals raised $20,000 to combine with the more than $50,000 in sponsorship dollars. Congratulations to Team Dash for Denn as they won the award for both the Largest Team and the Top Fundraising Team; also kudos to Andrew Rossini, our Top Individual Fundraiser.
Twin Cities, Minnesota – April 19th: The 5th Annual Twin Cities is speeding along, now with over 1,500 registrants and 110 Teams already established. Presenting sponsor, Minnesota Gastroenterology, has been busy the month of March, with a great awareness campaign with partner WCCO TV and leading the way with 99 Team Members already and more than $1,400 in donations raised on top of their sponsorship. Still in the lead on the Team Fundraising is Team Baty Sisu who has already raised over $3,500, but 7 other teams have already raised over $1,000 in donations as well. Leading the way among individual fundraisers is Lorrie Wilson, our top fundraiser from 2008, with nearly $800 raised to date.
Chicago, Illinois – April 25th: A first time 5K run and walk in Chicago now has over 15 Teams and 100 participants ready to gather in Lincoln Park in Downtown Chicago to help get Chicago’s Rears in Gear. Team Faye-bulous Force has taken the early lead in fundraising and team membership. The team was organized by Amanda Miller Degard to honor her mother, Faye Hale, who last her battle to colon cancer last September. Amanda also lost her grandmother to colon cancer, so takes this fight very personally.
Look for registration to open shortly for events in Rochester and Central, Minnesota; Colchester, Vermont; Central Ohio, San Francisco and Alexandria, Virginia.
