The Petit Road Race
is Next Weekend
Posted: Friday, July 10, 2015 2:32 pm
PLAINVILLE—— The 8th annual GE 5K Road Race
returns to Plainville July 19. All proceeds benefit the Petit Family
Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to help the education of young
people, help those affected by chronic illness and help and protect those
affected by violence.
The 5K race will begin on East Street near the intersection
with Maple Street and finish on Woodford Avenue. Those who canÕt handle the run
but still wish to support the foundation can also participate in a 2 mile
Fitness Walk that day. Registration will be held from 7 to 8:30 a.m. This will
be followed by a short KidsÕ Fun Race for children under 8-years-old before the
main run/walk starts at 9 a.m. There will be two water stations during the
race. Post-race activities include a raffle, music, food and beverages.
The Petit Family Foundation was established to honor the
memories of Jennifer Hawke- Petit and her daughters, Hayley and Michaela Petit,
who were murdered during a home invasion of their Cheshire home in 2007. Dr.
William Petit has stated on petitroadrace.com that he wishes to continue the
Òkindness, idealism and activismÓ that defined the lives of his family. Hayley
and later on Michaela, the website states, were dedicated to community service
and charitable giving, especially with the MS Society. Their mother Jennifer
Hawke-Petit suffered from the illness.
Last year, more than 1,600 runners and walkers helped raise
$115,000 for the Petit Family Foundation. Since the race began, GE has helped
raise a total of $1 million for the non-profit organization. The annual road
race was started two brothers, Robert and Gary Heslin,
who went to school with William Petit at Plainville High School. All three
graduated in 1974 and ran cross-country and track and field.
In 2010 GE took its sponsorship to the next level, hosting a
pasta dinner the night before the race. Held outside its Plainville site, the
GE Pasta Dinner brings together families in the local community for an evening
of food, entertainment, games, prizes and other carnival favorites, with all
ticket proceeds benefiting the foundation. Last year, the pasta dinner raised
an additional $3,600 for the foundation.
This year, there will be a Team Pledge Competition. Cash pledges will be collected by designated team captains at pre-registered bib pick-ups. Donations can also be made online at active.com. Participants are encouraged to bring a list of names and dollar amounts pledged directly in support of their team. The Team Pledge Competition winners will be posted on facebook.com/PetitFamilyFoundation following the race.