Record turnout for Avonmore’s Firefighter Run
The 2017 Firefighter Run in Avonmore on Sat., Oct. 21, saw the best turnout yet with 200 runners participating in the 10K and 5K run, according to organizer Garnett Last. Last is seen here with daughter Kaitlyn taking a moment from handing out race medallions to pose in front of the sponsor board at North Stormont Place.       Thompson Goddard photo

Carolyn Thompson Goddard
Record Correspondent
AVONMORE – The 2017 Firefighter Run in Avonmore was held on Sat., Oct. 21, with organizer Garnett Last commenting it was the best turnout yet with 200 runners participating in the 10K and 5K run. Last year, a member of the North Stormont Fire Service mentioned, there were 150 runners in the 5K and 50 in the 10K. The annual Avonmore Firefighter Run is a fundraiser for the Avonmore Firefighter Association.

Jill Robinson of the Roxborough Agricultural Society lends a helping hand and a big smile to diners who turned out to the annual community breakfast held in conjunction with the 2017 Avonmore Firefighter Run on Oct. 21. Thompson Goddard photo

The course, which began and ended at North Stormont Place, followed several streets in this small community with the first runners finishing within an hour of their start. One of the participants was 20-year-old Malik Croney who ran the 5K in full firefighter gear which he commented weighed between 80 and 90 lbs.

Participants in the 10K 2017 Avonmore Firefighter Run start off on the course that wound through the streets of this small North Stormont community on Oct. 21. Thompson Goddard photo

Inside North Stormont Place, people enjoyed a full-course breakfast cooked by members of the Roxborough Agricultural Society, with many runners enjoying a selection of breakfast favourites after their race. Sharon and Kevin Riddell of Brockville participated in the 5K run and commented they enjoyed running for such a good cause.

The organizers were thankful to the many individuals and businesses which supported the event, with music and commentary provided by DJ Sound. It demonstrated once again the community spirit that exists in Avonmore and North Stormont – proving once again how North Stormont is a great place to grow!