Run for a million

Races are all about getting to the finish in as short a time as possible, so most people wouldn’t think to time how long it takes participants to cross the starting line.

But when it took 11 minutes for the mob of 10,000 or so runners, walkers, baby strollers and dogs to set out Saturday on the 28th annual Sonoma County Human Race, event coordinator Andrea Rodriguez-Jereb knew she had a winner on her hands.

An official count showed participation up by almost 1,000 people this year, bringing in more than $1million for some 300 local nonprofit organizations, said Eunice Valentine, director of the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County.

But in what Valentine said is probably a reflection of the squeezed economy, pledges of about $1,006,000 were down slightly compared with last year and 2006, when the race generated $1.1 million in pledges.

“It’s still over a million,” she said. “It’s still the biggest Human Race in the country.”

Lucy Barnett, director of development for Sutter VNA Hospice, led a string of 10 walkers costumed as Olympic torches through Howarth Park, all of them carrying signs bearing the names of major donors.

“We normally raise over $50,000 because we’re willing to do anything for our sponsors,” laughed Barnett, clad in a gray body-length cylinder with a flamelike wig that could have been made of orange candy floss.

Barnett said she made the costumes to honor the Olympic torch relay before it was enveloped in controversy.

“I hope there aren’t any protests, and nobody tackles us,” she joked. “We’ll just spread loving kindness, and win them over.”

“It brings out the best in everybody,” Judy Stephens of Santa Rosa said of the race.

She participated with her husband, retired ophthalmologist Cole Stephens, and their six children, all returned from homes in Utah and the San Diego area to surprise their dad on his 80th birthday.

“It’s a great way to celebrate a birthday. We all like to run. It’s a charity event, and mom’s a breast cancer survivor,” said daughter Courtney Seamons of Bountiful, Utah.

Linda Long of Rohnert Park said she easily could have walked for three causes close to her, including Goodwill Industries, her employer.

Recently diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, she would love to have raised money for breast cancer awareness.

But she chose instead to walk with family to benefit the Children’s Diabetes Foundation in honor of her granddaughter, Madison Donner, 11, of Windsor, who was diagnosed with the disease two years ago.

Donner’s cousin, Dominique Sepulveda, 7, also has diabetes, and Supelveda’s mom, Lisa Donner’s sister, was diagnosed as a child. Dominique’ dad also is diabetic, and her grandfather is, too.

The family, which has many relatives with the disease, raised a total of $2,200.

“It’s near and dear to our hearts,” Lisa Donner said.

Despite the deep needs the race represents, its signature whimsy and lighthearted tone ruled the day.

The human-sized Kendall-Jackson wine bottles were there, as were bejeweled Miss Americorps contestants in sashes and paper Burger King crowns, characters from the Wizard of Oz, complete with tiny Munchkins representing Berean Baptist Christian Academy, and a grapevine billowing with green grapes for Becoming Independent.

Some of the 30-plus people who walked to raise money for West County Health Centers, which operates clinics in Guerneville and Occidental, were transformed into silver-caped Super Heroes for Health Care. They all wore 2- to 3-inch-heeled boots that probably helped them win in the best adult costume category but didn’t make the walk any easier, they confessed.

Taking home the Judges Choice Award was a group of more than 30 clients and workers from Sarah’s Group Home for disabled adults, dressed as 1950s cheerleaders, a prom queen, Priscilla Presley and three Elvises with inflatable guitars representing different eras in his life.

But perhaps no one took a bigger prize than Nicole Sea-strunk, 27, of Santa Rosa.

After starting the 10K run Saturday, she decided to take a shortcut to accommodate a pregnant friend who didn’t think she could make the full distance.

Her boyfriend, Austin Canum, 28, had to literally be quick on his feet. He ran ahead and was there at the finish line when she arrived, down on one knee, ring in hand, his son Ian by his side. Some friends arrayed behind him held a banner with this proposal: “Nicole, Will You Marry Me?”

The answer: “Yes.”

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat

.com.