CORNING – A record-breaking field of 5,000 runners registered for this year's Wineglass Full and Half Marathons run on October 6, 2013. And this week, Wineglass Marathon officials announced another record-setting number as $48,600 was donated to over 40 non-profit organizations which helped with the race.
This year marked the 32nd running of the Wineglass, making it the longest continuously-running marathon in New York state. Race co-director Mark Landin shared, "The growth of this race over the last few years is truly a community effort and we're delighted to be able to share that success with our non-profit partners." This year's donations are more than double last year when $23,000 was donated to local non-profits.
Recipient organizations were involved in all aspects of the race weekend from the runner's expo to water station staffing to course safety and medical help. Race co-director Sheila Sutton said, "Over 1,500 volunteers are needed during the week of the Wineglass. Being able to rely on service groups like the Corning and Bath Rotary Clubs as well as Scout troops and all the fire departments along the route builds ownership for this race across a broad community."
Race officials declined to provide specific donation amounts but said that the largest donations went to organizations which spend months preparing for and staffing key elements of the weekend. Those include the Corning YMCA, Corning Rotary, Bath Rotary, Curtis Baptist Bible Church, American Red Cross, and Health Ministry of the Southern Tier. For a full listing of organizations, go to www.wineglassmarathon.com.
Additionally, a check for $5,000 was delivered to One Fund Boston, the charity supporting victims of the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Most of that was donated by runners themselves during the registration process with the Wineglass adding the final amount needed to reach $5,000.
The 2014 Wineglass races will take place October 4-5. Registration opened on December 2, 2013 with over 700 runners already registered for the 5K, half and full marathons.