BY FREESIA SINGNGAM
STAFF WRITER

BRISTOL — The 40th annual Mum-A-Thon pulled in more 320 participants Sunday morning, and for many of them, it was a family affair.

“What’s new this year is the family road race,” said Patrick Collins, race director. The Mum-A-Thon featured a 5-mile road race, a 2-mile road race, a 2-mile fitness walk and a 5-mile relay for only mother-daughter, mother-son, father-daughter or father-son pairs.

Chris Pinette and her son, Sean Howley, both of Bristol, competed in the relay. They finished second with a time of 43:51, and even though they didn’t win, they were happy to be there together.

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Howley, who used to be on his cross-country team in high school, said he and his mother hadn’t run in a while, and they both missed it.

“It’s a nice thing to do together,” Pinette said. “There’s something for everybody, and the course is really beautiful.”

Proceeds from the Mum-A-Thon benefited the Bristol Boys & Girls Club and Family Center and St. Paul Catholic High School.

Collins said there was “great spirit” at the event, and he hopes to add a “kids fun run” next year.

“We get great support from the city,” he said, noting the parks and recreation department and key sponsors including the Chamber of Commerce, Sovereign Bank and Advanced Printing.

Collins could not give an estimate of how much the event raised Sunday morning because he has to factor in other costs and donations.

Michael Suchopar, executive director of the Bristol Boys & Girls Club, said the Mum-A-Thon is about health, strength and well-being, and the Boys & Girls Club shares those ideals.

“We hope that the relationship continues,” Suchopar said.

This year was the first time the Mum-A-Thon directed its proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club, and the Boys & Girls Club, in turn, set up a pancake breakfast. Suchopar and members of his staff made and served pancakes to the hungry runners after the races.

Christina and Raymond Roy, of Plainville, came with their children. Christina Roy said her sisters run the Mum-A-Thon every year, so she and her husband decided to do the 2-mile run this year.

While the children didn’t run, they were able to enjoy the pancake breakfast, and the parents even got a massage.

“We’re a close family,” said Lisa Crowley, Christina Roy’s sister from Bristol. “It’s a fun thing to do together.”

Crowley ran the 5-mile race and was cheered by the Roys when she crossed the finish line.

For the 2-mile race, the overall winners were: first place, Brian Graca of Rocky Hill, 31, timed in 10 minutes, 50 seconds; Chris Rau and Jackson Morrow, 12 minutes, 30 seconds.

Top female finishers were Kerry Benoit, 13:50, Norwalk; Carol Morenz and Adrianna Antigiovanni

The 5-mile run was won by Rau, 38, of Burlington in 29:55, followed by Colin Gannon and David Riccinti. the female division was won by Sandra Dalles, 37 of Middlefield in 36:11, followed by Emily Lindsley and Jennifer Warner

Freesia Singngam can be reached at fsingngam@centralctcommunications.com or (860) 584-0501, ext. 7259.