Area charity races highlighted next Sunday

While the majority of races nowadays help to provide money for charities, you get a chance to choose from one of two deserving runs next Sunday.

Or, if you are really ambitious, the races are spread two hours apart, so you could take part in both on the same day.

At 9 a.m. in New Paltz, head to Plains Road for the inaugural Let’s Get Literate 5k.

All of the proceeds from this race benefits The Literate Earth Project, a nonprofit entity that is attempting to end global illiteracy by creating libraries in Uganda and other developing countries.

The program provides books, libraries and literacy programs, thus empowering the communities in those countries. The race will be contested on a flat course that includes Plains Road (starting near Pencil Hill) and partly on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.

Registration is $20 if you go online (theliterateearthproject.org/lep5k) and $25 on race day with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

You can also get more details on the “Let’s Get Literate 5k” Facebook page.

Kingston’s Hutton Park is the start and finish for the second annual Raising Your Awareness about Narcotics 5k at 11 a.m.

The race memorializes Ryan V. Kelder, a local man who died one month short of his 25th birthday from a deadly drug addiction.

Kelder’s family is the driving force behind the race, hoping to create awareness and community action about the dangers of drugs and addiction.

One of the positives from last year’s race was that the charity was able to donate $8,000 to the Boys and Girls Club for drug awareness and prevention programs.

This year, the Kingston Recreation Department will be the beneficiary of funds from the race.

Entry fee is $20 and registration on race day begins at 9:30 a.m.

The course travels in the residential neighborhood in and around the park.

More information is available online at raisingawarenessrun.com.

SIZABLE FIELD COMPETES AT CATCH A RAE 5K

Competitors of all ages and abilities showed up a few weeks ago to take part in the annual Catch A Rae 5k in Red Hook.

The race, which honors the memory of Alexandra Rae Gravino, helps fund the Red Hook scholarship that bears her name.

The event included the featured 5k run, with 158 finishers, and a mile run for students that had 33 finishers. Jack Hobson was the overall winner, charging to the finish line in 17:19. Joshua Riedinger was runner up in 18:00, with Adam Beach in third at 18:43 and Will Reichman fourth in 19:16.

In fifth place was Terry McCann in 19:43, then came Seamus Hally in 19:47 and Matthew Woodard in 19:57.

Colin Bertomeu (20:27), Jacob Kelly (20:25) and Jeffrey Kiluba (20:35) rounded out the top 10.

Grace Beach won the women’s race and was 25th overall in 23:13, with Brianna Angier (24:18) and Katelyn Arket (24:19) in second and third, respectively.

Jody Apap (24:35), Gayle Russell (24:38) and Margaret Niekrewicz (24:54) were among the other top finishers for the ladies.

Ryan Dupont was the winner of the mile run in 6:30, followed by Jason Swart (6:40), Brody Hackmeyer (6:49) and Marshall McConville (6:49).

Grace Hillery was tops in the female division of the mile in 6:57, ahead of Nina McCann (7:13), Shayla Byrne (7:34) and Liv Christensen (7:39).

LOCALS STRONG AT CORNING WINE GLASS RACES

Congratulations to the half dozen local runners that participated in last Sunday’s Wine Glass Marathon and Half Marathon in Corning.

Deb Domack raced to a time of one hour, 57 minutes, 13 seconds in the half-marathon, then word has it she headed to the finish of the marathon to urge on the other Onteora Runners Club members.

Chris Regan, who ran in the Vintage Runs at Bethel Woods half marathon the day before, had the best finish of the marathon group at Wine Glass, clocking a time of 3:47:09.

Mary Roosa got the 26.2 miles in at 4:36:27, then Jennifer Braun broke the 5-hour barrier at 4:51:43.

Colleen Kortright ran 5:00:15 and Cyndy Borzumato-Cobb was close behind in 5:01:06.

Please send all race results and information to 79 Hurley Ave., Kingston, N.Y., 12401; fax to (845) 331-3557; or email to runerichrun@gmail.com. Follow Eric Houghtaling on Twitter at http://twitter. com/runerichrun