The weather was perfect Saturday as more than 500 runners and walkers of all ages started to gather in front of Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School from 6:30 a.m. onward to participate in the three races being held that day to support Caroline’s Miracle Foundation (CMF). It had previously been announced that this would be the final time that the event would be held.
The O’Brien family came together for a photo (below.) It was their eldest daughter Caroline, who passed away in July 2010 from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) – a rare and inoperable form of brain cancer — at age 11, who formed CMF prior to her death. All proceeds from the event support the Foundation.
The mission of CMF is to bring smiles to the faces of children battling brain tumors and other serious illnesses, as well as supporting safety initiatives in Old Lyme. To see some of the ways the foundation has brightened the lives of these children, visit carolinesmiraclefoundation.org
After the race, some of the innumerable volunteers posed for a photo in their T-shirts spanning all five years of the event.
A total of 316 runners finished the 5K race. The other two events were a 5K walk and a Kid’s K.
Twenty-five year-old James Rosenberger was the overall winner of the 5K with a time of 18.08.3. The fastest woman was 19-year-old Sarah Hammond who completed the 5K course in 20.40.4. Medals were awarded for the first, second and third placed runners in each age category.