News Releases
ROAD RACE ANNOUNCES DONATIONS (April 3, 2024)
Fifteen charities will benefit from the efforts of the 11,060 runners who registered for last November’s 87th Manchester Road Race.
The Manchester Road Race Committee announced today that it will make charitable donations totaling $81,650 from the proceeds of the 2023 road race.
As it has done for more than seven decades, the committee will once again contribute to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Research to combat Muscular Dystrophy and other crippling childhood diseases has been a charitable objective of race organizers since 1951.
With the MRR’s growth in size and popularity, the race committee has been able to expand and diversify its philanthropic outreach. Other donation recipients this year include non-profit organizations that sponsor scholastic and youth running programs, operate a diaper bank, assist local residents whose homes need repairs, conduct an educational summer camp program, offer music and drama instruction to local children, print maps for area walking and running trails, and provide sports and recreational activities, and gifts at Christmas time, for young people in under-served communities.
In addition to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the road race committee will make donations this year to the following organizations: Blue Angels Foundation; CAST; Gentle Love Diaper Pantry; Manchester Adult and Continuing Education summer camp program; Manchester Elks Lodge; Manchester PAL; MARC; M.H.S. Track & Field; Manchester Running Company Track & Field; Manchester Pipe Band; Rebuilding Together Manchester; Rotary in Motion trail map project; and Shenipsit Striders.
The Transitional Living Center of Manchester, which provides a nurturing and supportive residence for homeless and displaced youth, will receive a special bequest from the MRR’s Honors Club Program. Each year, the road race designates a specific area charity to honor. Up to 100 entrants, who pay $100 instead of the regular entry fee, can sign up to run on behalf of the organization. All proceeds are donated to that charity. Last November, 86 runners ran the road race to benefit the Transitional Living Center.
“The Manchester Road Race has a very long and proud tradition of charitable giving,” said Dr. Tris Carta, President of the Manchester Road Race Committee. “We could not make these contributions without the tremendous support that we receive from our great runners, financial sponsors, volunteers, media partners, and the Town of Manchester, and we are very grateful to all of them.”
The 88th Manchester Road Race will be held on Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 2024). On-line registration for the event, which is regarded as one of America’s largest and best Turkey Day races, will open on September 1st.
ROAD RACE BLOOD DRIVE SETS ANOTHER RECORD (November 24, 2023)
Runners, volunteers and friends of the Manchester Road Race rolled up their sleeves to donate a record 372 pints of blood Friday at the 37th Ray Crothers Blood Drive.
The blood drive, which is sponsored by the Manchester Road Race Committee and the American Red Cross of Connecticut, has been held annually on the day after Thanksgiving since 1986.
The 372 pints of blood collected will benefit 1116 patients in need of blood, plasma and platelets, and set another single day collection record for the road race blood drive.
The prior record was 364 pints, which were collected at last year’s event. A total of 8,258 pints of blood have been donated at the MRR blood drive during the past 36 years.
“We were delighted with the turnout and are extremely pleased to partner in this life-saving effort with the Red Cross,” said Lance Morgan, a physician assistant and member of the MRR’s executive committee who coordinates the drive. “We are so thankful to our generous donors and financial sponsors.”
The blood drive is named in memory of Ray Crothers of Tolland, who won the Manchester Road Race in 1965 and competed in the race for 43 years prior to his death from cancer in 2008.
ECHN was the event’s principal financial sponsor. Additional support was provided by Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants, Highland Park Market and Fox 61.