GE 5K Road Race to
support Petit foundation July 19
Posted on Jul 11, 2015
by Brian Johnson
PLAINVILLE — The 8th annual GE 5K Road Race returns to
Plainville July 19. All proceeds benefit the Petit Family Foundation, a
nonprofit 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 by 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. For more information visit petitroadrace.com.
Brian M. Johnson can be reached at (860) 584-0501, EXT. 1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.