juneau empire
About 40 runners turned out Saturday to race in the annual Juneau Family Health and Birth Center’s Labor Day weekend Fun Run.
The birth center’s staff and volunteers cheered on participants as they either ran the 1-mile or 5-mile course from the Salmon Creek hill to the Power House and back.
The race raised more than $600 for the center, which supports prenatal, birth and postnatal care to women and families throughout Southeast Alaska.
Ida Meyer, 10, won the mile race, with a time of 7:06. Jeff Gnass, 71, was hot on her heels, and came in second place, with a time of 7:58. For the 5-mile race, the top five finishers were: Hiram Henry, 43, 34.44; Justin Dorn, 34, 35.11; Drew Stafford, 25, 36.20; Jim Ustasiewski, 54, 37.57; and Bethany Gollin, 24, 38.32.
Birth Center Director Madi Nolan Grimes thanked all who donated their time, energy and funds to make the fun run a successful event, including: Paul DeSloover and Juneau Trail and Road Runners (formerly Southeast Alaska Road Runners) for lending race supplies, Shawn Miller for operating the race timing equipment, Costco for healthy post-race snacks, and Birth Center staff and volunteers Christine Johnson, Paige and Tell Spragg, Johanna Crossett, Derrick Grimes, David Ottoson, Bob Bartholomew, Rob Steedle, and Jetta Whittaker.
Juneau Family Health and Birth Center is soon hosting another event to support the donated health care fun: a gourmet dinner at Salt prepared by 2017 Seafood King Lionel Uddipa. To find out more about the dinner or services offered by the birth center, call 586-1203 or visit www.juneaubirthcenter.org.
A sign outside the Juneau Family Health and Birth Center on Saturday during the annual Labor Day Fun Run. (Courtesy Photo)
