(Riverton, WY) – Dozens of 5k goers helped raise breast cancer awareness at the 3rd annual Fremont County Pink Ribbon Run, held yesterday, Saturday, August 19 at the SageWest Riverton Campus.
Put on by the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative (WBCI) and SageWest, the Run kicked off at 7am with team registration, information from resource booths, snacks, kids activities, and a helicopter fly-in from Guardian Flight.
MCs Jerrad Anderson and Charene Herrera then introduced WBCI Executive Director Kelly Morgan and SageWest CEO John Whiteside, and also shared a letter written by Senator John Barrasso.
Following their words, breast cancer survivors in attendance were given flowers while the Run’s survivor song, “This Girl Is On Fire” by Alicia Keys, was played.
Committee co-chair Marty Brammer was then invited to the stage to introduce this year’s Honorary Survivor, Manuela Twitchell.
“There is always hope,” Twitchell told the attendees. “The most important thing, I believe, that I have done to make it through the year of the unknown, was to stay calm and peaceful, and to look for joy.”
(To hear Twitchell’s story, check out her interview with Herrera on the County 10 Podcast.)
After Twitchell left nary a dry eye in the crowd, folks from the VFW and American Legion presented the colors, and Ron Burton conducted the Elder Ceremony with a sage blessing and prayer for willing race participants.
Once the opening ceremonies wrapped up, it was time for racers to take their mark and officially start the 5K.
After the last racers made their way across the finish line, Anderson and Herrera announced the winners, and SageWest’s Marketing and Communications Director Lindsey Anderson was honored for her continued support of WBCI and breast cancer awareness (all this, while Waffles the dog quite adorably stole both the spotlight and the raffle winner’s stuffed animal.)
The 5K top finishers are listed below.
Women:
- 1st Place – Casey Adams
- 2nd Place – Faye Hellyer
- 3rd Place – Lisa Appelhans
Men:
- 1st Place – Scott Groenke
- 2nd Place – Lonnie Adam
- 3rd Place – Logan Gardner
Team:
- Best Team Name – Pink Power
- Most Team Members – Pink Power
- Team That Raised the Most Money – Pink Power
Congratulations to all the participants/event organizers/sponsors, and here’s to looking forward to the 2024 5K!