Juneau athletes turned out for the first annual PolioPlus Fun Run/Walk on Saturday at the Riverbend Elementary covered playground. The event was sponsored by the Juneau Rotary, Juneau-Gastineau Rotary and the Juneau-Glacier Valley Rotary clubs.
Participants had the choice of a 1-mile or 5K courses. Many runners held up their thumb and forefinger to indicate the race motto of “We Are This Close to Ending Polio.”
One hundered percent of the event entry fees go to support PolioPlus and are matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Total race donations were $4,950, according to organizer Keith Hermann.
“They will receive a double match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Hermann said via email. “Altogether providing enough funding to immunize about 25,000 kids against poli. Juneau has really made a difference in the fight to eradicate polio.”
Donations can still be made. Contact the aforementioned rotary clubs for more information or race director Keith Hermann at keithahermann@gmail.com.
1-MILE RESULTS
(name, sex, age, time):
Michael Miller, M, 6, 9:56
Shawn Miller, M, 35, 9:57
Michelle Strickler, F, 50, 10:43
Marian Morrison, F, 5, 14:46
Aaron Morrison, M, 40, 14:47
5K RESULTS
(name, sex, age, time):
Eric Eriksen, M, 39, 23:33
Reed Stoops, M, 66, 23:52
Mike McKrill, M, 70, 27:25
George Elgee, M, 64, 27:34
Fred Baxter, M, 71, 27:40
Gavin Fitzgerald, M, 12, 27:50
Jared Lee, M, 37, 27:59
Kristin Lee, F, 31, 28:00
Molly Hillis, F, 43, 28:30
Teresa Young, F, 45, 29:00
Beth McKibben, F, 50, 31:07
Molly McCormick, F, 50, 31:07
Lacey Sanders, F, 32, 31:08
John Cannon, M, 65, 31:59
Nathan Ruiz, M, 29, 32:56
Hayden Bryson, M, 16, 36:22
Florian Tanzyna, M, 15, 49:21
Marian Morrison, age 5, and father Aaron, 40, run hand-in-hand towards the Mendenhall River Trails during Juneau’s 1st Annual PolioPlus Fun Run on Saturday at the Riverbend Elementary School covered playground. A slideshow of photos is online at Juneauempire.com.
Fred Baxter, Mike McKrill and George Elgee run over an access bridge to the Mendenhall River Trail during Juneau’s 1st annual PolioPlus Fun Run on Saturday. Elgee holds up his thumb and forefinger signifying “We Are This Close To Ending Polio,” the motto of the event sponsored by Juneau Rotary, Juneau-Gastineau Rotary, and Juneau-Glacier Valley Rotary. One hundred percent of the entry fee goes to support PolioPlus and is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Contact your local rotary for more information. A slideshow of photos is online at juneauempire.com.
