North Boros 5K draws 186 runners and walkers

&emsp;&emsp;After weeks of cheering on American athletes in the Paris Olympics, 186 local runners gathered at Greenstone Methodist Church in Avalon on the morning of Aug. 10 to take part in the North Boros 5K Run/Walk sponsored by North Hills Community Outreach and the Northgate Cross Country team..&emsp;&emsp;In its 16th year, runners of all ages participated, with Ellie Green from Brighton Heights, age 12, registering first place of all female runners, crossing the finish line with a 23:03 time. The first place male runner was Bellevue resident Tyler Wisniewski with a time of 17:20.&emsp;&emsp;NHCO Development Coordinator Abby Kelly expressed gratitude to all who participated in the event, with "...special thanks to Avalon and Bellevue boroughs for helping to make this race possible, and to our emcee, Matt Scoletti, for bringing great energy and positivity to the event!"&emsp;&emsp;Originally launched as a fund-raiser for the Northgate cross country team, race organizers teamed up with NHCO four years ago, with monies generated divided among the two groups. North Hills Community Outreach's North Boroughs office is located in Avalon – one of three main offices focused on providing emergency services, case management, and assistance for older adults across the North Hills region. "We have seen increased need since 2020," explained director of development and communications Lizzy Zimmerman. "Many families are trying to make ends meet with their money not going nearly as far. We are here to make sure families stay fed, that roofs stay above their heads, and anyone who is experiencing crisis, hardship or poverty has somewhere to turn."