The Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival sponsored the Step Out to
Stop Diabetes Walk at Marshwood Great Works School on May 24. Pumpkinman
provided t-shirts and medals for the participants. The fourth and fifth grade
students from Great Works raised $467 for the American Diabetes Association by
walking or running laps of the half-mile trail on the school grounds for an
hour. The event encouraged the students to remain in “constant motion” and
promoted heath and fitness in addition to raising funds in the fight against
diabetes.
Kyle Burnell, Pumpkinman Social Media Director, of South
Berwick, commended the students for their efforts.
“It was special to see so many students supporting their
community and the fight against diabetes,” he said. “These students are also
working to improve their own health in the process of helping others and that
is something we at Pumpkinman are thrilled to see,” Burnell elaborated.
Since its inception in 2007, the Pumpkinman Triathlon
Festival has awarded and donated more than $150,000 back to the communities in
Southern Maine. The Festival which takes place on September 8 and 9, 2012,
hosts more than 1,100 multisport athletes and 2,000 spectators. Its success is
due in part to the participation and volunteerism of over 250 local volunteers.
The Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival also recently awarded
seven student athlete scholarships to Marshwood High School students.
Luke Fernandes, Eliot; Troy Pappas, Eliot; Megan Maguire,
South Berwick; Sam Morrison, South Berwick; Kate Pouliot, South Berwick;
Natalia Bachelder, South Berwick; and Ryan Grogan, South Berwick, were all
awarded the Fourth Annual Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival Student Athlete
Scholarship Award in the amount of $500. These students displayed not
only high academic achievements but also displayed leadership on the playing
field and within their communities through their volunteer efforts.
Each recipient was a varsity level athlete for a minimum of
two years, displayed an exemplary record of positive athletic and non-athletic
citizenship through volunteerism, as well as success in the classroom. Event
director, Kat Donatello, of Eliot, praised these local student athletes.
“In this very busy environment where so many students lose
focus, it was exciting to see how diligent these seven students were in
maintaining such high academic standards, as well as being incredible leaders
on both the playing field and within their communities,” she said. (courtesy photo)
