October 2, 2008

And they’re off!

Running for a cause at Almaden Times Classic

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

Sponsored by a host of local organizations including the Almaden Times, Almaden Valley Counseling Services (AVCS) held its 15th annual Almaden Times Classic 10K/2-mile run/walk this past Sunday in the neighborhood surrounding Leland High School.

The race is one of several fundraising events held by AVCS each year to support the group’s mission of providing access to affordable mental health counseling for all. The organization is a community-based, nonprofit counseling agency committed to meeting the mental health concerns of all ages, with an emphasis on youth. AVCS offers a full range of counseling services that support and promote personal growth, positive family relationships and emotional wellbeing.

A mother and daughter duo, Christine and Jeanine Noordam, pose for the camera. Jeanine, 12, finished second in her age group for the 10K race. Photo by Shana McLean Moore

AVCS services include short- and long-term counseling for children, adolescents, individual adults, couples and families. Fees are based on a sliding scale and are determined by income. Counselors conduct outreach and intervention on school campuses, providing regularly scheduled and emergency services to 19 south San Jose schools.

The volunteers who helped staff the race are firm believers in the services provided by AVCS. Keri Landrum, a four-year board member with the organization, is one such passionate supporter. “All the proceeds from our work here go right back into our community. We provide on-campus counselors to many Almaden schools. If the counselors encounter a child who needs additional services, we make sure they get the help they need,” said Landrum.

Maureen Burnham, a pre-school teacher who taught for many years at Shepherd of the Valley and is now employed at Santa Clara University, was helping with the race as a first-year volunteer with AVCS. “We provide a very important service for children and their families. I can’t fathom the idea that someone would need help and not have it available to them,” said Burnham.

One of the group’s counselors, Mary-Stone Bowers, was also helping with her first race as a part of AVCS. Bowers is a marriage and family therapist who splits her time between Schallenberger Elementary School and meeting with private clients in the clinic. “I came out today to support AVCS and my local community. In fact, while I am volunteering, one of my daughters is running the race and the other is babysitting the children of our friends so they can run,” said Bowers.

Tanera van Diggelen celebrates her second-place finish in her age bracket (for the 2-mile run) with a hug from Councilmember Nancy Pyle. Photos by Shana McLean Moore

Like Bowers, many event participants came out for more than a sense of fitness. Dena Noble, who has run the race for eight years, finished the 2-mile race in first place for her age bracket. She then cheered many people by name as they finished the 10K. “At other races, you don’t see as many people you know. This race is more personal with so many Almaden runners,” said Noble. Proving she has the competitive spirit of a true athlete, she added, “The secret to doing well in the 2-mile is to convince all the faster runners you know to run the 10K,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

Patty Donnovan, who has also been running the race for eight years, admired the determination in the faces of the runners who finished the race after her in the 2-mile event, including her husband who made good time in the 10K. Donnovan went on to explain that many of the day’s participants were competing in a local “hat trick” by competing in today’s race, as well as the upcoming Rock n Roll half marathon on Oct. 5 in San Jose and the Silicon Valley half marathon on Oct. 26.

Others took a more low-key approach. “I did this race about 10 years ago,” said Irene O’Brien. “I came back out today to do the race as a mother-daughter event and to support my local community,” she added.

Jeanine Noordam, a 12-year-old who also ran the race with her mom, wanted to run the race to see if she could finish a 10K. “We walked the course two weeks ago and then came out to run it last week to make sure I could do it,” she said. There was no denying that Noordam was prepared after she finished the race in second place for her age group.

One of the cheering fans explained why three generations of her family came down from Cupertino to cheer on her husband, a 66-year-old first-time racer. “We went to visit my daughter in Switzerland and came back with some new running shoes. Then, my daughter sent us a picture of her competing in a 10K and challenged my husband to do the same with his new shoes. So, my other daughter, granddaughter and I came out to support him,” said Libby Zieber.

Tanera, left, Frank and Lewis van Diggelen pose with fellow Bret Harte runners Richard Ho and Dominique Chan.

And, a man who raced for the first time in the event, Phil Duvall from Los Gatos, won his age category and couldn’t say enough about the race. He told the Times, it was “well done with wonderful people.” He plans to return next year with his grandchildren.

Another newcomer to the race was Stephanie Holm, who works in Nancy Pyle’s office. She told the Times, “the race was awesome. It was my first time running it and I really enjoyed it.”

The event concluded when Councilmember Nancy Pyle presented awards to the top three finishers in each age bracket. Pyle donated $1,000 to help sponsor the event. As each of these winners posed for a photo with Pyle, it seemed as though their smiles spoke to a dual sense of accomplishment—pushing themselves physically for a really good cause.