Hub Pen and Walker-Clay Run for Charity

Six employees from Hub Pen Company, Braintree, Mass., teamed up with five staffers from Hanson, Massachusetts-based distributor Walker-Clay to participate in the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center's 10th Annual 4k Trail Run. Three employees from Charles Riverboat Company, a Walker-Clay client, completed the 14-person team. This is the third year the companies have participated together.

Held on September 15, the event began with a ferry ride and concluded with a BBQ dinner celebration and awards ceremony, which was emceed by marathon legend Bill Rodgers. During the race, 728 runners (increased from 572 in 2010) sprung into action for a 4K cross-country style race that traversed 204 acres of rolling hills, forests, meadows, salt marshes and beaches along the trails of the island while featuring a new course that challenged runners to the end with two final hills as they crossed the finish line.

Proceeds benefit Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center, a not-for-profit organization that provides outdoor adventure and experiential learning programs for young people from diverse economic backgrounds. Each year, funds from the trail run help bring 6,500 young people from greater Boston to Thompson Island to participate in challenging environmental education programs that build self-confidence, leadership and teamwork skills while improving students' academic success.

Employees from each company ran as part of the Corporate Team Challenge to celebrate their professional teamwork and to help build an even better relationship. The top 10 times for each team were combined, averaged and rank ordered to determine the overall fastest teams. The Hub Pen/Walker-Clay team placed No. 16 in a field of 29 teams, with an average time of 21:12.

Results of the complete Hub Pen/Walker-Clay team are:
1. Mike Fleming, Hub Pen Company 18:25
2. Bob Stearns, Hub Pen Company 19:23
3. Rebecca Graffy, Charles Riverboat Company 20:15
4. Russell Cushman, Charles Riverboat Company 20:16
5. Mary McGaughey, Hub Pen Company 20:30
6. Tracey King, Walker-Clay 21:27
7. Bob McGaughey, Hub Pen Company 21:54
8. Heather Clay, Charles Riverboat Company 22:05
9. Meghan Roan, Walker-Clay 23:48
10. Kaileen Powers, Walker-Clay 23:49
11. Patricia Fleming, Hub Pen Company 26:06
12. William Clay, Walker-Clay 28:36
13. Michelle Peebles, Walker-Clay 29:12
14. Lauri Stearns, Hub Pen Company 33:32

"This is the first year I have run in the Thompson Island 4K Trail Run ... actually, it is the first run I have ever participated in!" said Michelle Peebles, vice president of sales and marketing at Walker-Clay. "It really was a great experience to become part of team Hub Pen/Walker-Clay and join in this worthy cause. I look forward to running again next year because the atmosphere was relaxed and fun. It was gratifying to see not only our own team shirts out there in the field, but those of two other teams whose shirts we had created as well."

For more information, visit Hub Pen Company's website.