March 27, 2023

Back with a Bridge & a Bang: The Bay Race Results are In

St. Joe’s Crosses Fundraising Finish Line to Raise over $350,000

Construction surrounding the Lift Bridge on Beach Boulevard finished just in time for the 129^th edition of the Around the Bay Road Race on March 26, and race organizer Anna Lewis rejoiced. “It amazes me every year how this day comes together and how the participants fill the city with such great energy,” says Lewis. “Although running is often viewed as an individual sport, it’s the commitment of our city partners (Hamilton and Burlington), the efforts of our tireless volunteers and the support of our loyal sponsors, that makes this event feel like a real team effort.”

Every year, seasoned marathoners and aspiring runners alike come from across the region to give it their all in the iconic event that boasts predating the Boston Marathon. The following is a list of race winners and times from the 2023 Around the Bay Road Race:

• Men’s 30-km in-person race
  First: Blair Morgan, 1:37:46
  Second: Eric Bang, 1:40:40
  Third: Roman Carette, 1:41:42
• Women’s 30-km in-person race:
  First: Sasha Gollish, 1:48:03
  Second: Rachel Hannah, 1:50:41
  Third: Teagan Roberston, 1:58:11
• Men’s 5-km in-person race
  First: Aaron DeJong, 15:56 2
  Second: Sam Richter, 15:59 3
  Third: Caleb Beland, 16:02
• Women’s 5-km in-person race
  First: Brittany Moran, 17:33
  Second: Carley Somerset, 18:26
  Third: Jessica Kellar, 18:49

A Win for St. Joe’s, Too

As the original beneficiary of the Around the Bay Road Race, St. Joe’s Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s race raised more than $350,000 for the Hospital thanks to the support of some local friends and familiar faces at the Bay Race.

The event saw more than 200 Hospital staff and 24 corporate teams come together to walk, run, and raise funds to help expand St. Joe’s Special Care Nursery, which provides critical care to babies born prematurely or with a medical condition. Funds will also help to renovate 11 labour and delivery rooms in the Hospital to give babies and their families the very best start possible.

The remaining funds have been earmarked to help bring the latest breast diagnostic imaging equipment to St. Joe’s so that patients facing a breast cancer diagnosis can get the definitive answers they need, sooner.

Team Carriage Gate Races to Raise Over $100,000

Having completed the full 30k course in 2012 and 2014, and the 30k relay back in 2008, St. Joe’s 2023 Community Champion Nick Carnicelli is no stranger to the Bay Race. This year, however, was the first time Carnicelli participated in the race to raise funds for St. Joe’s. Together, Carnicelli and Team Carriage Gate Homes raced their way towards raising more than $109,000 in near-record time. Carnicelli, his wife, and his four children all started their lives at St. Joe’s, so the fact that some of the funds raised this year are going to renew the Hospital’s labour and delivery rooms while expanding its neonatal special care nursery was a cause close to his heart.

“We’re humbled by the generosity of our network of friends, family, colleagues, employees, vendors and partners,” Carnicelli says of the achievement. “I think it speaks to how many people were born at St. Joe’s or have a loved one who’s been cared for there. We know that our healthcare systems are stretched beyond their limits, so we hope the funds we’ve been able to raise can help, even a little bit.”

Team LiUNA Meets a Million-Dollar Milestone

Raising funds for an important community cause can be a marathon, not a sprint. But the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) makes it look easy. This year marks a milestone accomplishment for Team LiUNA Lending A Hand: this long-standing team of steadfast St. Joe’s supporters has raised more than $1 million for St. Joe’s through their Bay Race participation over the past decade. This year alone, they raised more than $137,000.

The team has had a consistent presence in the Bay Race since 2013 under the leadership of Joe Mancinelli, International Vice President and Regional Manager for the Central and Eastern Canada area of LiUNA, and Riccardo Persi, Business Manager, LiUNA Local 837. The pair have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each year as they took part in this historic event. Since then, Team LiUNA Lending a Hand has taken the lead as St. Joe’s most successful fundraising partner in the race to date.

St. Joe’s Staff Get a Benevolent Boost

For the last three years, our Hospital staff have been tirelessly caring for the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, each year, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, employees and volunteers find the time, and stamina, to take on the Bay Race and raise funds for St. Joe’s. To help fuel their fundraising this year, three generous donors collectively provided $25,000 to the Foundation for the sole purpose of matching every gift made to a Hospital participant or team. As a result, St. Joe’s teams raised more than $110,000 for the Hospital units and departments for which they proudly work every day to care for patients.