The 15th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge

Proud to be a part of

Celebration

On Saturday, October 18, MVP Health Care presented the 15th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge that benefitted Saratoga Bridges. Held in the Saratoga Spa State Park, over 1,500 runners, walkers, spectators and volunteers packed the Columbia Pavilion — raising close to $21,000 NET for Saratoga Bridges’ programs and services.

Congressman Paul Tonko was at the Starting Line to kick off the races which resulted in the overall Female & Male 5K winners — Mesha Brewer from Saratoga Springs, NY and Derrick Staley from Ballston Lake, NY and the overall Female & Male 10K winners — Diane Ryan from Malta, NY and Sully Sullivan from Schenectady, NY. For 5K results CLICK HERE (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/resultsView.php?ID=5347) and for 10K results CLICK HERE (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/resultsView.php?ID=5348)

The event included the popular Kids Fun Run for children 12 & under, NET Chip Timing, Disposable Bibs/Chips, give-a-ways from their friends at MVP Health Care, homemade refreshments, pumpkin and costume contests and many raffle prizes. It was also a part of the Saratoga Springs Centennial Celebration. The Centennial Celebration committee presented certificates for official t-shirts from Impressions of Saratoga to the 19^th and 15^th finishers in both the 5&10K races. The winners were: 10k – 19^th Place: Brian Ciota from Saratoga Springs and 15^th Place: Abigail Carnevale from Saratoga Springs 5k – 19^th Place: Ryan Abatto from Clifton Park and 15^th Place: Nicholas Lanzillo from Troy. They had over 120 volunteers from Criminal Justice Students from BOCES, Quad Graphics, Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar and Saratoga Bridges staff, board members and friends. Ainsley’s Angels and Saratoga Bridges’ own “Bridges Buddies” also finished the 5K, some of them for the very 1^st time.