Hurry Up and Register for Seymour Pink 5K!

Sharing from Seymour Pink founder Mary Deming:

Hello 5K Runners and Walkers!

There is GOOD news and BAD news.

Our 5K registration for this year’s POUNDING the PAVEMENT for PINK has been off the charts!

As you know, we said we would cap the 5K at 2,600 runners/walkers or Sept. 22, whichever came first?

Well there is good news and bad news.

The good news is we are very close to 2,600, the bad news is we will close all registration at 11:59 p.m. this Wednesday, Sept. 13.

IF YOU have NOT registered for this year's 5K and are planning on doing so...time is RUNNING OUT!

 

Awards for “Most Team Members” in Individual/Family and Business/ Organization” categories, will be determined at the end of registration on Sept. 13.

HOWEVER, all donations made until Sept. 22., will continue to count toward “Most Monies Raised” awards for individual and for teams.

 

Also, although donations made after Sept. 22 will not count toward 5K awards, we will gratefully accept all online donations until Oct. 26, 2017.

 

PLEASE share with all who may not have signed up yet for this year’s 5K but are planning to do so; TIME is RUNNING OUT!  

 

THANK YOU for your support in the FIGHT against breast cancer!

'Pounding the Pavement for Pink' 5k in Seymour raises awareness for breast cancer

(Photos submitted by Mary Deming)

SEYMOUR >> More than 1,800 people laced up their running shoes last weekend to partake in Seymour Pink's annual "Pounding the Pavement for Pink" 5K race and walk, which raises awareness, support and money for breast cancer.

The event, which Seymour Pink Founder Mary Deming said drew 76 breast cancer survivors, 72 teams of people formed to honor loved ones fighting the disease and those who lost their battle, 110 volunteers and runners from 12 different states, even some from Australia who told Deming they planned their holiday to America around the 5K.

"The sense of community, the sense of HOPE, the presence of the survivors with us...it is UNBELIEVABLE," Deming said.

Deming said many community organizations and local businesses participated again this year, noting that Hayne Construction had more than 80 people on their team for the 5K, raising more than $11,000 in donations.

Since Deming founded the grassroots initiative in 2009, more than $500,000 has been raised for breast cancer research.  

Deming posted the following message on her Facebook page, after the event:

"Well the 3rd Annual POUNDING the PAVEMENT is over...but is it really? Don't we all leave yesterday's events changed by the experience? Whether you walked, ran, volunteered or cheered your loved ones, aren't you a little different today?
I can't help thinking that as the day ended yesterday and into the next few days we will share with those that couldn't be there, our experiences on Saturday.
For me, the first word that comes to mind is OVERWHELMED....
...
Overwhelmed by the commitment so many businesses, Big and Small make to the 5k by sponsoring the event...your monies allow us to "kick it up a notch", to elevate to a Celebration not just a 3.1 mile run or walk!
Overwhelmed by all of the volunteers, who give so much of their time and energy weeks before the race and all of the days leading up to it! (a race of this magnitude doesn't happen with a handful of people)!
Overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and leadership the team captains gave to motivate and recruit friends and family to join their team!
Overwhelmed by the generosity of all those who help raise or made donations in honor of and in memory of the those victimized by the cancer diagnosis!
Overwhelmed by all of the businesses and individuals who donate all of the food, water, and beautiful gifts and corsages for our survivors!
Overwhelmed by each and everyone of you who register for this event!
Overwhelmed by this community and its desire to UNITE in the FIGHT against breast cancer. What an amazing community!! If you didn't feel THAT yesterday...you miss the HEART of what this COMMUNITY is ALL about.

Lastly OVERWHELMED by the STRENGTH, COURAGE, FAITH, HOPE and LOVE our loved ones, who have heard the breast cancer diagnosis, bring to us every day! THANK YOU for showing us HOW to FIGHT!
and as we looked out from the stage yesterday... Did we not SEE MORE PINK!
......Whenever you try to put into words an event such as yesterday's 5K, you miss thanking someone or some group...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know I am forever indebted to all of you for what your gave to our 3rd annual 5k ...what you gave to this COMMUNITY!
God bless each and everyone of you....
Thank you from all of us at SEYMOUR PINK and SEYMOUR TRADITION!"

Griffin 5K supports Center for Cancer Care in Derby

 
DERBY - Once again I "brought up the rear" at an inspiring Valley fund-raiser. And had a great time in the process.
On Oct. 5 it was the second annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink in Seymour - a truly amazing event to experience - that raised funds for and awareness of breast cancer.
Our Circle of Friends Griffin Hospital support group team came in last at that one.
But somebody has to be last!
 On Saturday it was at the fifth annual Griffin Hospital 5K walk/run to benefit the Center for Cancer Care in Derby.

 

Here are some of my teammates before the walk. Daughter Allegra is hamming it up for the camera.
 

My friend Judy Nicolari of Ansonia was new to the team this year, and I was happy to have her company along the route. Here she is chatting with Jimmy Little of Ansonia before the event.


My team has grown in size and I'm grateful for the moral support that all the members have shown me.
Having had my surgery at Griffin as well as my chemo and radiation treatments at the Center for Cancer Care I feel a strong commitment to all things Griffin.
Hoping to have an even bigger team for next year's 5K.
 

 
It was a beautiful morning! Griffin President and CEO Patrick Charmel told me when the walk began that last he had checked there were more than 540 participants. I haven't learned the final number. 

The weather couldn't have been more cooperative for participants and supporters.

The walkers take off down Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia.

Three of my supporters: husband Ralph flanked by our son, Cameron, and daughter, Allegra. 
 

 We saw some pretty fall colors on Westfield Avenue, Ansonia. 

These little girls dressed in pink warmed my heart when they cheered and chanted "fight breast cancer!" as we rounded a corner.


Chalk drawings along Coon Hollow Road encouraged us near the end of the route.

Judy and I were getting there at this point. We strolled and chatted, and I was able to snap some photos with this blog post in mind.

Hey Team McVillers, wait up! 

Teen wins kudos for winning Seymour Pink race for 2nd year

Seymour Pink, Inc. founder Mary Deming congratulates Hunter Cripps, 14.

5K race winner Hunter Cripps shows off medal. Photos submitted by Laura Cripps

Seymour High School freshman Hunter Cripps captured first place for the second consecutive year in the 14 and under division during Saturday's Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K. 
Hunter ran the race in 23 minutes and 59 seconds. 
His parents, John and Laura Cripps, and sister Sierra, said they couldn't have been more proud.
The event raised funds as well as awareness for breast cancer.


Great job, Hunter! Next year you'll have to make it three in a row. 

As for myself, I was happy to finish walking the 5K with no mishaps!

The event was more inspirational than I had imagined it would be. Congratulations go out to Mary Deming and her team of hard-working volunteers on their success.

Seymour Pink seeks support for Saturday event

SEYMOUR - Seymour Pink, Inc. invites everyone to come out and support the second annual Pounding The Pavement For Pink 5K race this Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine St.
 
The growth of this race in one year is unprecedented and, in fact, the number of runners had to be capped at 1,500, which was reached last week. 
As a result, there will be no same-day registration. 

Come enjoy the fun and cheer for your favorite team or come to honor and recognize breast cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle to the disease.


This is a press release from Seymour Pink, Inc.


* On a personal note, I'm participating this year in the Pounding the Pavement for Pink event with Circle of Friends, a team made up of members of our breast cancer support group at Griffin Hospital with the same name.

I'm a bit concerned about my fitness level for the walk, but I'm going to give it a whirl.

For more information, please read this story written by my colleague Jean Falbo-Sosnovich.

'Training' for walks in West Haven, Seymour and Derby

Local non-profits will benefit

I admit I'm using the term 'training,' rather loosely.
I'm kinda-sorta exercising to survive through three upcoming walks ... the first one is Sunday morning.

The Center for Disability Rights in West Haven is holding its eighth annual Wheel-A-Thon.

It will start at 9 a.m. at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 5 Rock St., West Haven. More than 90 percent of the funds raised go to programs and scholarships for area teens with disabilities.

Teams have been formed but CDR Executive Director Marc Anthony Gallucci invites individuals to "c'mon down" and join in the event. It's always a fun time.

It costs $25 to register and for that you get breakfast, camaraderie, and the knowledge you are helping to improve the life of a young person who is facing challenges.  

Next up is the fourth annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink to benefit Seymour Pink, Inc., a grass roots initiative to promote awareness of breast cancer and financially support local survivors deal with the disease.

The walk/run will start at 9 a.m. Oct. 5 from the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine St., Seymour. 

And on Oct. 12 it's the fifth annual Griffin 5K WalkRun. That also kicks off at 9 a.m., from the parking lot of the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave., Derby.

If you haven't signed up for any of these walks, please consider joining in ~ you'll be glad you did.

Pounding the Pavement planned in Seymour

SEYMOUR - I rarely win anything ... but today I got an e-mail from Seymour Pink, Inc. founder Mary Deming, saying I had won a pink cowbell in a contest sponsored by her nonprofit organization.

 

I won it for being the last person to sign up Sunday for the second annual 5K Pounding the Pavement for Pink event on Oct. 5, in which I will be walking, not running, thank you very much.

Deming has been running a contest on the event's Facebook page for those who form a team or who register to be on a team. She has been giving away pink merchandise to lucky 5K participants. 

I am a member of Griffin Hospital's Circle of Friends support group for breast cancer survivors and will be walking with our team of the same name.


Come out and support Seymour Pink ~ Join the fight against breast cancer and participate in what Deming promises will be an "over the top" event. I'm looking forward to it.

I'm a pretty quiet person, but with this cowbell in hand on Oct. 5 I just may become a bit louder.

Story about Seymour Pink 5K updated

When I wrote the story that appears in today's Register about the Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K the lots from which buses will shuttle participants had not been determined.

The parking lots at Seymour High School, 2 Botsford Road, and Bungay Elementary School, 35 Bungay Road, will be available for parking that day, Oct. 5.

The second annual event is rain or shine.

Seymour teen goes pink, wins 5K race

Hunter Cripps, 13, an eighth grader at Seymour Middle School, won the Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K in the 14 and under age division Saturday in Seymour. The event benefits the grassroots' Seymour Pink, Inc. nonprofit organization that raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research.  / Contributed photo