NECC graduate, Susan Bonenfant, her daughter Nina Gilbert and nine-year old granddaughter Grace Gilbert

For Susan Bonenfant of Plaistow and her family, Northern Essex Community College’s First Annual Campus Classic 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, May 4 is truly a family affair.

Bonenfant, a Northern Essex graduate and her daughter Nina Gilbert and nine-year old granddaughter Grace Gilbert, both of Windham, will all participate in the USATF certified 5K race which will begin at 10 a.m. on the college’s Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St., and wind through the beautiful rural campus and the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Competitive runners—as well as novices and walkers—are invited to participate. The race is part of the Merrimack Valley Striders 2013 Super Iron Runner Series. Registration for the 5K is $25 before April 29; $30 after that date. Online registration will remain open until April 29.

Children ages 12 and under are invited to participate in the Fun Run which is organized by age group with the first race beginning at 9 a.m. Registration for the Fun Run is $10. Following the race, there will be children’s activities including face painting, an obstacle course, and a balloon artist.

Vice president/deposit compliance manager and BSA officer for Pentucket Bank, Bonefant attended Northern Essex in 1975 and 1976 before transferring to Southern New Hampshire University and has been a member of the college’s alumni advisory board since 2005.

When she heard about the race at an alumni advisory board meeting, she thought it would be a great opportunity to get back into running, a sport she had enjoyed years ago.
She convinced her daughter and granddaughter to join her and there will now be three generations running on May 4.

The first 200 5K registrants and the first 50 Fun Run participants receive t-shirts. 5K Awards will be given to the top male and female overall plus age divisions: 14 and under, 15-18, 19-25, 26-30, 31-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+. All Fun Run participants will receive an award.
Since this is a Campus Classic, participants are encouraged to wear apparel from their own college as they run or walk. Proceeds from the race will benefit the NECC Annual Fund, which provides support for student scholarships and academic programs, OneFundBoston, which has been established to help the people affected by Monday’s tragic event.

The Platinum Sponsor for the race is Sovereign/Santander.
For more information or to register online, visit https://www.necc.mass.edu/campus-classic/ or contact Lindsey Mayo, NECC director of alumni and donor relations, lmayo@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3621.