Runners and walkers wait at the starting line for the second annual Brave for Brews 5K to begin on a beautiful fall morning in Hellertown Sunday.
The weather was nearly perfect–sunny and seasonally crisp–for the second annual Brave for Brews 5K run/walk held on the Saucon Rail Trail in Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township Sunday morning.
About 85 people participated in the race, which this year will benefit the Community Outreach Benefit (COB), a Coopersburg-based charity that each year helps several area families facing financial hardships due to crushing medical expenses.
Photos of the individuals who are receiving COB support in 2018–from a young mother battling cancer and “making memories” with her children to a mother of four who was left paralyzed by back surgery–were displayed at the start of the race, with COB member/volunteer Glenn Kranzley of Hellertown briefly sharing their stories before the countdown began.
The 5K, in which all ages participated, began and ended at the Saucon Street trail entrance, with registration as well as a post-event celebration (each race participant received a complimentary beverage) held nearby at Braveheart Highland Pub on Main Street.
In addition to being a race sponsor, the restaurant also donated 10 percent of its post-race dining proceeds to COB.
The men’s winner of this year’s Brave for Brews 5K was John D’Ottavio, who recorded a time of 18:45, and the women’s race winner was Kelly Stoneback.
Thanks to the generosity of those who sponsored and/or participated in the event organized by volunteers Nancy Petiet and Denise Dyer, everyone certainly felt like a winner on Sunday.
From left, Glenn Kranzley of COB, Max Moll of Braveheart Highland Pub, 2017 Brave for Brews recipient Amy Musser of Hellertown, and Brave for Brews organizer and co-chair Nancy Petiet at the race starting line.
Glenn Kranzley of the Community Outreach Benefit shares the stories of the individuals COB is currently helping with 5K participants.
Melody is a disabled U.S. military veteran receiving support from COB.
Max Moll of Braveheart Highland Pub holds signs with the photos of COB recipients on them.
Brave for Brews co-chair Nancy Petiet addresses participants at the starting line.
5K participants await the start of the race.
Men’s first place finisher John D’Ottavio
Women’s first place finisher Kelly Stoneback
Brian Clifford Jr.
Katherine Kim
Mason Kares
Gabriella and Henry Haklar
