Inaugural Right to Run raises $5,000 for Center for Great Women

Generations Bank, organizing sponsor of the Women’s Right to Run 19K/5K, today announced the inaugural event raised $5,000 for the National Women’s Hall of Fame’s fundraising campaign. The campaign is raising funds to rehabilitate the former Seneca Falls Knitting Mill into the organization’s future home, The Center for Great Women. More than 1,000 runners participated in the Seneca Falls-based event hosted on May 7.“This year’s event was a great success, and on behalf of the race committee I’d like to thank all of the runners, volunteers, sponsors, spectators, and our national spokesperson for the Right to Run, Kathrine Switzer,” said Menzo D. Case, president and CEO of Generations Bank. “We look forward to making this an annual event and can’t wait to see what 2017 brings!”The Women’s Right to Run is slated to return next year and will take place in Seneca Falls on Saturday, May 13, 2017.Kathrine Switzer has signed on to return as national spokesperson for 2017. This marks the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Boston Marathon where she made history by becoming the first woman to complete the race as a numbered entry.“It was an honor to be a part of the inaugural Right to Run. It was a truly beautiful day with an inspiring mission. I look forward to returning to Seneca Falls next year,” said Switzer.“We are thrilled with the support we received in our inaugural year – to have over 1,000 participants was phenomenal and through our publicity efforts we were able to generate brand awareness around the globe. With that kind of visibility and support, we know 2017 will be even more amazing,” said Katie MacIntyre, race director and marketing officer at Generations Bank. “Furthermore, with Kathrine Switzer returning to Seneca Falls just weeks after she runs the Boston Marathon for her 50th anniversary of that 1967 run, and the centennial of women’s right to vote in New York state, it will surely be the celebration of a century!”Sponsors of the inaugural Right to Run and surrounding events include Generations Bank as the organizing sponsor; Fleet Feet of Rochester and Yellow Jacket Sports as the logistics sponsor; The Inns of Aurora as the vendor village sponsor; WomenTIES as the 5K bib sponsor; Finger Lakes Radio Group as the 19K bib sponsor; The Gould Hotel as the official race hotel; FingerLakes1.com as a media sponsor; Finger Lakes Health, First Presbyterian Church, Girls on the Run, Bonadent, Dr. Frank Catalano and Generations Bank/Agency/Investment Services as water station sponsors; Syracuse Media Group and upstatenewyork.com as the runner gift bag sponsor. Special thanks to race start location sponsors New York Chiropractic College and Rodman Lott & Son Farm. Other sponsors and supporters include 261 Fearless, Wright Beverage, Pepsi, Sysco, The Jacobs Press, Wilson Press, Seneca Falls Business Association, Seneca Meadows, The Town of Seneca Falls, The Seneca Falls Police Department and the Women’s Rights National Historic Park.For more information, visit righttorun19k.org.