![President Todd Pfannestiel poses with Jeremy Thurston chairperson Board of Trustees [left] and former chairperson Robert Brvenik [right] after accepting the university's institutional charter.](https://uticatangerine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/unnamed.jpeg)
America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday, March 2 with nearly 2,000 participants at Utica University. Just over $500,000 was raised for the American Heart Association and will help fund research to end heart disease and stroke.
The damp and cold weather didn’t deter walkers and runners from all over New York to come out and support the American Heart Association.
Utica University’s women’s lacrosse team was one of many groups from campus who participated in the event. Members from the campus radio station WPNR played music and encouraged participants to finish strong.
The run/walk had three options for participants, including the 18-mile run that began in Barneveld, and the 3-mile run and 3-mile walk that started in front of Utica University and ended on Utica’s campus.
Every race had a strong turnout and the events afterwards such as the expo and people on the sidewalks no matter where you were cheering you on and playing music was a perfect sight to see. After the events, walkers and runners could go back inside Miga Court to warm up and talk with others about why they were there and the significance the event had to them.
According to the American Heart Association website, this year’s top fundraisers were:
- NYCM Insurance, $63,553.44
- Albert Pylinksi, $61,809
- ES Community Teams, $55,249.53
- Treadmill Challenge, $23,968.21
- Friends of Heart, $20,187
