May 19, 2011

To the Editor,

What a success! The inaugural Healthy Hearts 5K is now behind us and we enjoyed every minute of it. The event is getting rave reviews. The high fives and praise are coming from all directions and for that we are forever grateful.

On behalf of Cherri Crockett and myself, I want to extend a heart-felt thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers for making this event so successful. It was our vision to inform, entertain, and fundraise at this event we dubbed "A River Valley Community Event". Our sponsors' generous contributions helped make our vision a reality by helping to offset the cost of holding the event for the first time. Those sponsors include Irving Forest Products, Arsenic & Old Lace Antiques, Mexico Pizza Hut, Rumford Community Home, Smart Care, SG Theriault Funeral Home, Sun Journal, Rumford Falls Times, River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Carrabassett Water, Davis Florist and BC Consultants.

We owe Bob Arsenault, Roger Arsenault and Charlie LaVallee of the Chisholm Ski Club a huge thank you for all of their efforts in providing top-notch timing the day of the race.

We also have many thanks for our supporting sponsors who donated items services or allowed us to borrow materials from them. Those sponsors include Med-Care, River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Brushmarx, River Valley Zumba, River Valley IT, Rumford Police Dept., Mexico Explorers, Key Bank, Oxford Federal Credit Union, Martha Hill, Emma’s Pretties, River Valley Chiropractic, Towle’s Corner Store and A Time for You Massage.

We owe another special thank you to Greg Viger for capturing it all on film. Anyone wishing to see pictures can view them on Facebook at either Photos by Greg Viger or River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.

The Mountain Valley Peer Helpers coordinated a food drive that generated $180 and an estimated 400 pounds of food for identified senior citizens in Oxford County. Kristen Provencher and her crew were there every step of the way during the set up of the event.

Thank you to our MANY volunteers, without your help our race course wouldn’t have been as safe and for that we are grateful. We hope that you will all join us again in 2012 and with any luck; it will be another first-class event.

Sincerely,

Sandra Witas

River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition