Northwest Corner — and Texas! — turns out for Sharon Classic

SHARON — The 26th annual Sharon Classic Road Race brought participants from all over the Tri-state region (and two from Texas) to Sharon to compete in one of the town’s biggest events of the year. The race and other events on the Green were held on the morning of Saturday, May 7. The 5-mile race is held annually to raise money for the Sharon Day Care Center, which uses the funds to help cover operating costs. Some of the funds are also used to offer scholarships to families who otherwise could not afford to send their children to child care. While the race was the main event, the whole area surrounding the Green was covered with tents, people, food tables and a bounce house. The Sharon Center School PTO held a bake sale at one booth. Junior Girl Scout Troop No. 40354 displayed an exhibit entitled “Building Healthy Bones” that taught visitors how to prevent osteoporosis. The Girl Scouts then walked the course and earned a badge for their efforts. Area Boy Scouts manned the water stations along the race route, keeping the runners hydrated as they passed by. The Sharon Audubon Center brought birds to the Green, and the Sharon Hospital Good Neighbors offered free blood pressure screenings. “NASCAR” Dave MacMillan was there raising awareness for his Sunday in the Country Food Drives.Kim Hohlfield of Estate Care donated and organized plants for the plant sale, which also donated profits to the Sharon Day Care. Members of the Sharon Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Squad were also on hand, to cheer and to offer aid in case of emergencies. Sharon Classic Road Race organizer Karen Dignacco reported that the race raised an estimated $10,000. Dignacco said that the race is a great way for everyone in the Sharon community to get together and help out a great cause. “This race is pretty much the top fundraiser for the Sharon Day Care. There really is a tremendous group of people on the Board of Directors, and they do a great job,” she said. Turnout this year was about average, she said, with not an exceptionally high or low number of runners.Click here for race results.