Small crowd, big effort for Salvation Army Red Kettle Race in Brackenridge

Participants of the third annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Race in Brackenridge didn’t appear to mind that the temperatures only crept into the mid-30s on Saturday morning.

“It’s not something you really want to get out of bed for on an early winter morning, but it’s a great cause,” said Steve Liptak, who was in town from Ohio visiting family.

He, like many of the 50 participants, noted the scenic course along the Allegheny River and the desire to support the Salvation Army, which serves people in need with food and clothes, among other programs, year-‘round.

“I’ve done it all three years,” said Eric Bengel, a former marathon runner from Harrison’s Natrona Heights neighborhood. “It’s a flat course, and it’s a good way to support them.”

The race stepped off at 9 a.m. from the Allegheny Valley Corps and Community Center along Brackenridge Avenue.

Salvation Army Capt. Alex Senak said it’s a perfect way to kick off the holiday fundraising campaign, commonly recognized by the ubiquitous kettles outside grocery stores and other retailers.

“This is something we look forward to,” Senak said. “It’s a great way to get money going into the holiday operations and also raise awareness of what we do.”

The Salvation Army provides near daily programs that assist with food, clothes, back to school supplies and haircuts, holiday gifts, children’s programs and worship services.

Senak said the 5k race usually brings in about $5,000. Proceeds are lumped in with the group’s overall Red Kettle campaign, which last year surpassed its goal of $110,000 by more than 30%.

This year’s Red Kettle goal is $130,000.

Senak said the race has drawn about 60 people in each of the first two years. He was hoping to increase that number to 100 this year, but the weather didn’t cooperate.

The wind was biting despite the sun that started to peek out while runners traversed the course.

The 3.1-mile footrace followed a residential path along the river into Tarentum before turning back to pass the ATI steel mill at the Harrison line and then back to the Salvation Army where volunteers were waiting with waffles and coffee.

Among the small groups who participated were families and local students, including several members of the Highlands National Honor Society.

“I saw it on Facebook and rounded up the troops,” said Cindy Walters of Natrona Heights.

She recruited family member Kathleen Sturtevant, who recently moved from Boston where she volunteered for that city’s world famous marathon.

“This is a great course,” Sturtevant said. “I loved running along the water.”

Runner Frank Tarantine made the 80-mile trek from Youngstown, Ohio, to participate for the third consecutive year.

“I was looking for something this time of year and fell in love with the course,” he said. “It’s a real nice flat course — which surprises you because of all the hills on the way here.”