By Elizabeth Schran, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations
Photo credit: Communications student, Meghan Meehan ’22
July 13th was another beautiful Saturday morning in Westbrook, Maine for the 493 runners, walkers, and virtual participants in the Westbrook Strong 5K. This year Saint Joseph’s College was represented at the race by a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and alums.
Faculty and student runners pose with the Monks mascot at the Rairdon 5k Race.
You couldn’t miss the new SJC Monk mascot, donned by David Tuttle ’20, who is also on the Monks Track Team, circulating the crowd and posing for photos with parents and kids. Also prominent were the four members of the Monks Cross-Country Team—Troy Hendricks ’22, Michael Brooks ’22, Brandon Whitlock ’21 and Analyse Harris ’20—who took away three prizes, including the #1 runner in the race, Troy Hendricks ’22.
Faculty families who ran included Dr. Steve Bridge and Camilla Fecteau Bridge with Gideon, as well as Dr. Emily Lesher with Nora and Nico. Westbrook native Sheri Piers ’93 of the SJC Health Services, husband Al Bugbee, and daughter, Carly, also took away prizes in their respective age groups. Alums Neile Joler Nelson ’95 with her daughter, Anna, Ryan Close ’08, and several SJC alums serving on the Westbrook Police Department, also came out strong for the Rairdon family.
Each year, Laurie and Gary Rairdon, Matthew’s parents, are joined by their family members and friends from the Westbrook community in months of planning for race day. Their hard work and dedication is directed at creating something positive in memory of their son, whose life was taken in 2013 when his career as an ER nurse at Mercy Hospital had just gotten underway. The Westbrook Strong 5k benefits the scholarship endowment, which gives preference to nursing majors from Westbrook who are pursuing their degree at Saint Joseph’s College. To date over $100,000 has been raised through this special event.
SJC joins the Rairdon Family in saying thank you to all who participated. We are already looking forward to 2020, when race day will be Saturday, July 18th. Circle it on your calendars!
