Tri State
Run for the Plunge 5K offers ‘an excellent way for runners to take a bath’
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ROCKY GAP, Feb. 24 – David Mantheiy has been searching for a way to help Dr. Sean McCagh and the Allegany County Special Olympics for a long time, and the Pittsburgh resident has recently found the perfect outlet.
Click for entry form
ROCKY GAP, Feb. 24 – David Mantheiy has been searching for a way to help Dr. Sean McCagh and the Allegany County Special Olympics for a long time, and the Pittsburgh resident has recently found the perfect outlet.
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In conjunction with the 5th annual Hooley Plunge at Rocky Gap State Park next month, runners and walkers have a creative opportunity to raise funds for the area’s physically challenged and developmentally disabled. Before taking a dip in Lake Habeeb at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, participants in the first Run for the Plunge 5K run/walk can complete a 3.1 mile event as a way to warm-up before cooling down in the lake.
Mantheiy said he learned of the value of the Special Olympics as a volunteer. It brought a certain level of self-satisfaction, he said. Mantheiy, who agreed to support the run with a financial contribution through his construction firm Manheim Corp., also said seeing Special Olympics athletes compete brings to one’s self a level of awareness.
“Different groups have asked to have a 5K,” McCagh said. “We’ve wanted to do it, but we just didn’t have the manpower. Now, thankfully, the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club stepped up. It’s a natural fit to have a nice 5K the (day of) the plunge. It’s an excellent way for runners to take a bath.”
Participants for the run/walk can register in advance by downloading an entry form from www.mountainMDmarathon.org. Early entry fee is $10 and includes a unique event T-shirt to the first 50 registered runners. Race-day registration is $15 and begins at 8 a.m. The 5K run/walk begins promptly at 9 a.m. McCagh isn’t sure what to expect in the first-year event but “I think there’s a strong core of local runners who, once the word gets out to them, I think we can see a good showing from them.”
Mantheiy said he learned of the value of the Special Olympics as a volunteer. It brought a certain level of self-satisfaction, he said. Mantheiy, who agreed to support the run with a financial contribution through his construction firm Manheim Corp., also said seeing Special Olympics athletes compete brings to one’s self a level of awareness.
“Different groups have asked to have a 5K,” McCagh said. “We’ve wanted to do it, but we just didn’t have the manpower. Now, thankfully, the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club stepped up. It’s a natural fit to have a nice 5K the (day of) the plunge. It’s an excellent way for runners to take a bath.”
Participants for the run/walk can register in advance by downloading an entry form from www.mountainMDmarathon.org. Early entry fee is $10 and includes a unique event T-shirt to the first 50 registered runners. Race-day registration is $15 and begins at 8 a.m. The 5K run/walk begins promptly at 9 a.m. McCagh isn’t sure what to expect in the first-year event but “I think there’s a strong core of local runners who, once the word gets out to them, I think we can see a good showing from them.”
With Evitts Mountain in the background, Connie Milligan (left) leads Kim Kaisner, Shannon Gornall and Lyn Fucoraro through a recent training run off the shores of Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap State Park. Milligan, a trainer at Life Fitness Management in LaVale, is preparing a dozen runners for the Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival. Her group plans to use the Run for the Plunge 5K event, sponsored by Manheim Corp. and benefitting Allegany County Special Olympics, as a test of their current fitness levels. The Plunge run begins at 9 a.m. March 7 at Rocky Gap State Park. Visit www.mountainMDmarathon.org for details.
Mantheiy plans to bring himself and as many as nine other runners from Pittsburgh. His wife, Charlie, and 9-year-old daughter Chloe plan to participate with several friends.
Regardless of participation, the event will have a direct impact on Allegany County Special Olympics. In all cases, every dollar of every participant¹s registration fee goes directly to benefit the county Special Olympics and other programs that benefit developmentally disabled people. Manheim Corp.’s contribution basically underwrites the cost of the event T-shirts and post-run celebration of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
For more Run for the Plunge information, e-mail run@mountainMDmarathon.org
or call (240) 522-0276. For more information on the Hooley Plunge, visit www.hooleyplunge.com.
Combined coverage from Maryland Marathon Club and TriStateRunnur
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