Provincetown 5K Run/Walk

Provincetown, MA, August 8, 2009

Provincetown 5K Run/Walk Attracts over 100 participants and raises over $13,000

Runners on Commercial St, Ptown. Courtesy of www.kathempel.com

The first Provincetown 5K Run/Walk was held on Saturday, August 8, 2009 to benefit the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod. The fundraiser honored the memory of Ron Henderson, the founder of Pulp who died of cancer this winter after battling AIDS for 25 years. Dina Barker and Mary Richter, Race Coordinators, long-time summer visitors to Provincetown and Truro, were delighted with the success of the run/walk and overwhelmed by the generosity of participants. One hundred and twenty runners and walkers participated in the event, raising over $13,000, all to benefit the AIDS Support Group. Some participants even inspired other friends to sponsor them - Eric Martin and Tim Muldoon being at the top of the list of fundraisers. Paul Hempel, Ron Henderson's partner and an ASGCC Trustee, started the event with remarks about Ron and their life together in Provincetown. If you missed the opportunity to support the 5K and would like to make a donation, you can still make online donations at www.asgcc.org (indicating the "Ptown 5K" as your "purpose") or send checks to the AIDS Support Group. Participants said it was "a unique race for locals and visitors to see a different side of Commercial Street" and "it made me feel like part of something special." Thanks to the corporate donors who provided financial support or provisions - Cape Air, Cape Inn, Gold Medal Bakery, Pepsi, Provincetown Inn, Pulp, and Stop and Shop; to the stores who offered discounts this week to participants and to Katje Hempel, who donated her photography skills. The top five female finishers were Ashley Jensen (who finished first overall at 18:27.06), Kate Lyden (20:45.7), Sari Edelstein (21:03.7), Wendy Wagner (21:26.5) and Annie Mullins (23:00.2); top five male finishers were Michael Gosselin (18:53.3), Michael Metivier (19:22), Jake Wixted (19:38.2), Joe Fischel (19:44.8) and Jim Sheehan (19:48.4). All results are posted at www.asgcc.org and www.coolrunning.com, and photos are posted at www.kathempel.com.