First Sneakers & Shamrocks yields winners

5 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A St. Patrick’s Day collaboration between Northern Light AR Gould Hospital and Northern Maine Community College aimed to celebrate the holiday in a fun and healthy way.

As expected, green was the color of the day.

“Participants certainly got into the spirit of things,” said Jamie Guerrette, community health specialist at the hospital. “There were so many wonderful outfits, so it was hard to pick the best dressed.”

Winning the title for best dressed was a group effort. Taking the honors were Erika Vaughn, Ashlee Albert, Kim Kinney, Joy Cropley, and Jannelle Brooks, all from Salon 207 in Presque Isle.

Finishing in the front of the pack was Katie Malone with a time of 16:56.4, followed by Jaylee Fox at 17:17.4. The rest of the top 10 included Tom Marrow, 18:10.4; Stacy Shaw, 18:12.3; Glen Mahan, 18:18.8; Amanda Winslow, 19:28.3; Melissa McKenney, 19:49.6; Ed Malone, 20:11.6; Stephen Davis, 21:42.3; and Nadine Deschaine, 22:57.9.

In addition to the tie-in to St. Patrick’s Day, promoting a healthy lifestyle and physical activity was important to both organizations.  To help encourage this goal, all participants received a free one-day pass for the NMCC Smith Wellness Center and festive green shoelaces.

Guerrette said the partnership with Northern Maine Community College was integral to the success of the event.

“We couldn’t have done it without Eric Pelkey and his Phi Theta Kappa volunteers at NMCC,” she said.

Pelkey, an NMCC humanities instructor and advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, the college’s honor society, says the collaboration allowed students the opportunity to volunteer and to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Guerrette said organizers are already looking forward to next year.

“We will all turn green and share in the fun again next year on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day, March 15, 2020,” she said.

Submitted by the Communications Office of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital.