The Harbor Fest 5K and first Half Marathon on Aug. 31 was a great event that could only be made possible by so many volunteers and helping neighbors.

All 175 runners, donors and volunteers helped raise $4,230.65 for the Boothbay Region Route 27 Community Walkway, which will connect our two towns with a safe walkway from the YMCA/Schools to the Common/Clifford Playground.

It is impossible to list everyone who helped bring this exciting event together but here is a brief list: Lori and Win Mitchell for sharing Watershed Tavern and creating the spot for a charity run during the wonderful Harbor Fest; Tancy Mitchell for volunteering; Lori Pecor, Marketing Cents 4 U as the creator of Boothbay Harbor Fest, Boothbay Register and P&L Design for volunteer T-shirt designs; Boothbay Region Land Trust, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and Boothbay Region YMCA for sponsoring the event; Harbor Tech Solutions for all printed material; Hannaford and Poland Springs for donations of post race energy snacks and water; Carrie Eason for collecting pre-race donations;

Dick Spofford and the Boothbay Fire Department volunteers for helping everyone park and get to the starting line on time and for being the sweep vehicle for the Half Marathon; Jim Bryer for sharing his lovely stream path with all the runners parking at the Boothbay Fire Station; Lincoln County Sheriff Lieutenant Rand Maker and Boothbay Harbor Chief Bob Hasch and the Boothbay Harbor police for keeping the course safe for drivers and runners (they provided cones, safety education to volunteers and runners, safety vests and support during the event); Boothbay Region Ambulance Service for following the runners to make sure care was available if needed;

Lori Mitchell, Debbie Todte, “Christine” Yu-Chun Chen, Shawn Lewin, Jo Haney, Michelle Bouchard and Dianne Gimbel for registering same day runners and race packet pick up; Frank Fassett at the water filling stations; race course volunteers Billy Cirullo, Cameron Mitchell, Bill and Jo Haney, Ann Sutter, Alan Lewis, Joe and Susan Gelarden, Roger Rand, Melanie Howe, Andy and Penny Matthews, Abby Jones, Irene Fowle, Judith Krane, Wendy Wolf, Helen Hamblett, Kate Friant and Olivia Paolillo; Bob Cotier provided the watermelon at water station 4; Timers Griffin Harriman-Palola, James Howard, Debbie Todte and Tom Berry;

Jonne Trees, BRCTV and Cody Mitchell for their phenomenal footage of the event and for donating the sound system. Race can be viewed at www.brctv.org; BRU Team Bike Raffle donation; Martin Page for the port-a-potties; Boothbay Region YMCA and Andy Hamblett for being a constant supporter of events that help make our community a healthier one; finally, special thanks to Meagan Hamblett for her tireless effort in organizing this event. It would not have happened without every one of you — thank you all.

The Maine Department of Transportation has already committed $498,565 toward the Route 27 walkway, and with this great event we now need $83,152 to reach our required community match. Donations for the Walkway can be made to: YMCA/Boothbay Region Community Walkway, P.O. Box 500, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.