Story and Photos by Jim Ritch –
A crowd of 214 runners and walkers crossed the starting line for three Run for the Animals events in Wachapreague Saturday.
The participants, up from about 170 last year, ran or walked half-marathon, 10K, and 5K events.
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- Larry Baxter, seated left, and Deb Baxter, right, of Belle Haven, register half-marathoner Emily Jones, standing left, and her daughter, Layla, of Melfa, who ran the 10K race.
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- Jennifer and Mike O’Brien, of Hallwood, prepare their 10-year-old pit bull mix, Luna, for the 10K walk/run.
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- Beth Coleman, left, of Painter, receives a hug from her cheering section, Dave Paoletti, of Virginia Beach, before starting the half marathon. Their roles will reverse when Paoletti, a cyclist, next competes.
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- Finn Barfield, in stroller, smiles broadly before a 5K ride with his mother, Brooke Barfield, center, of Pocomoke, and her friends, Kelsey Williams, left, and April Morgan, both of Accomac. Williams holds Copper, a two-year-old beagle who joined for the event.
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- This year’s distinctive awards stand ready for distribution. Machine stamped and distressed by a donor, the awards were folded and packaged by a team of volunteers working for about a week, said organizer Andrea Derby. The awards vary in design each year.
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- Staff members of the Green Bush Veterinary Clinic sport their race t-shirts. From left are Frank and Jessica Waters, of Parksley; Russ Bailey, holding his dog, Blossom; Emily and Tally Young, of Mears; Rebecca Hall, of Parksley; and Luke Wilson, of Parksley.
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- Organizer Andrea Derby, of Green Bush, delivers pre-race instructions.
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- Dogs on leashes are the order of the day during the Run for the Animals.
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- Kendall Howard, of Onancock, left, escorts her dog, Annie, at the start of Run for the Animals in Wachapreague.
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- Red Hart, of Green Bush, stirs chili for participants, who were invited to dine after finishing.
The run, which finished its 10th year, aims to raise $10,000 for local animal shelters, said principal organizer Andrea Derby.
