By Jamie Dymond
ROCK HILL — June 17, 2003 – This past Saturday, 508 runners and walkers participated in the 11th Annual Rhulen Rock Hill Run & Ramble and raised a whopping $25,000 for research.
More than 300 of those participants were residents of Sullivan County. A diverse group of individuals gathered at the Frontier Insurance Building in Rock Hill to raise money in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in memory of Walter A. Rhulen.
The event was organized under the command of Suzanne Loughlin, in memory of Rhulen, her loving father. For the fourth year in a row, Mimi Vilord acted as campaign director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The successful family event yielded more than $25,000 that will be used to fund further research in seeking a cure for leukemia and lymphoma.
Everyone in the community who showed up was there for a different cause.
Kelly Desmond of Claryville, and Shirley Feinstein, members of the Sullivan Striders Club entered the 70 and over category. Debbie Noecker and Cindy Ellmauer, both teachers at Liberty High School, came out to support a good cause.
The "Wacky Walkers from Frontier," led by Yvonne Kaiser, consisted of Stephanie McGinnis, Alana McGinnis, Mickey McGinnis, Connie Lennox and Charlene Ryan who walk everyday together during their lunch break.
Peter Briggs of Rock Hill brought his two sons 12-year-old Brendan and 8-year-old Connor out to run for the fourth consecutive year.
One hundred twenty-six members of the Monticello Weight Watchers Center sported white t-shirts with the words Weight Watchers written on them. Leslie Colburn of Liberty stood at the finish line acting as a cheerleader for her friends holding a sign that proudly read, "Our Weight Watchers team lost a total of 2012 lbs."
The Tri Valley High School Road Runners were present, and member Travis Wolfe won the Male 16-19 year old category. He was joined by teammates, Jeremy Mathsen, Adam Wilson, Jonathan Huppke and Derek Smith who won the Male 11-15 category.
May Nishman of Woodridge won the Female 70 and over category with a time of 34:51. At 76, Nishman has run in the event for 10 years.
The results of this year’s event were as follows:
2003 5K Rhulen Rock Hill Run & Ramble Results:
Overall Female:
18:43 Heidi Everett-Powers, Warwick
19:38 Conni Grace, Poughquag
20:10 Carrie Leach, Walden
Overall Male:
15:27 Ryan Pauling, Rochester
15:48 Andy Latincsics, Newton
16:56 Wayne Beam, Middletown
Male 30-39:
18:11 Andrew McKean, Jeffersonville
18:15 Erick Sellstrom, Liberty
18:50 Paul Wiley, Westtown
Female 60-69:
26:54 Mary Ann Dowling, Rock Hill
31:55 Rita D. Hoffman, Monticello
33:21 Mary Heinle, White Sulphur Springs
Female 70 and over:
23:16 May Nishman, Woodridge
44:18 Norma Goldfarb, Monticello
1:05:18 Joan Morse, Rock Hill