On Sunday, September 17, at Ontario High School, 457 Shelby Ontario Rd, Mansfield, OH, join our community fundraisers at their annual “Bruce Waite 5K Run/Walk.” The event honors Bruce Waite, a teacher at Mansfield High from 1959-1989, who in 2003 died of mesothelioma, one year after diagnosis.
For the past six years, the Bruce Waite 5k Run/Walk has honored his life and legacy and this year will be no different. Registration begins at 1:00 PM and the race starts at 2:00 PM. The first 200 registrants are guaranteed to get the coveted long-sleeved, butter soft, Miles for Meso shirt!
The run/walk has drawn crowds from all over the United States with Bruce’s family, friends, former students, and those affected by this cancer blazing the trail. “Mr. Waite had an amazing way of making literature come alive in his class. Each day he encouraged us to strive for greatness, to not be complacent,” said Denise (Gilroy) Cukrowicz, Class of 89.
This year will see the addition of prizes for kids 10 and under along with other new surprises for everyone. Participants can always expect a day full of energy, music, door prizes, and the gracious hospitality of Nancy Waite, Bruce’s wife. Nancy also ushered the introduction of the 70+ age group since she competed in 2016.
There were 383 participants last year and in the past five years the event has raised over $50,000 for mesothelioma research through the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. The goal of the event is to honor Bruce’s life and assist in finding a cure to this cancer. Bruce was an avid runner for more than 30 years, so a run/walk event was the best way to honor him. When speaking of the event and her father’s memory, Jill Waite expressed, “My Dad was such a humble man; I smile when I think about how he would just shake his head at all the stuff at the race with his name on it. His legacy continues, and through the race, he continues to teach.”
Come join the celebration by registering or sponsoring at www.BruceWaite5K.com. For questions, contact Jill Waite at [email protected]. Follow the event on Facebook. Check out our current sponsors online.
