Ali's Challenge

Race to Athens
2004

Students at WMS will again be participating in Ali's Challenge: Race to Athens, an interactive fitness program, developed by the Ali Dunn Packer Memorial Fund, Inc. This challenge combines a running/walking activity with educational sessions covering health-related issues. Ali was a 15 year old student athlete from Jamestown who was killed in a car accident in June, 2001.

During the last two weeks of March students at WMS attended assemblies explaining the challenge. At one of the assemblies, Shannon Leary, a former WMS student and friend of Ali Packer addressed the students and answered their questions; at another Kate Mellor, also a friend of Ali's was present. Ali's mother was also present at both assemblies. The challenge will begin at WMS on April 5th; the wrap up clinic will be on May 18th. Click here to read a press release about the kickoff assemblies at Wickford. Below are some photographs taken at the kickoff assembly.

The Ali's Challenge run will take place on Sunday, June 6, 2004 at 1:00 pm at Fort Getty in Jamestown. Registration is $15.00 if you register before May 14th and $20.00 if you register after that date. Information and the registration form can be found at http://www.alisrun.com. *Please note: Wickford Middle School as your affiliation. Below are several Wickford students wearing their Ali's Challenge shirts.

Below are pictures of WMS students who participated in the race on June 6, 2004.

The following is an article which appeared in the local paper about Wickford's participation in the 3rd annual Ali's Run.

Hundreds of participants turned out for the third annual Ali's Run on Sunday, despite persistent wind and rain, and in true testament to the legacy of Ali Dunn, the Jamestown teenager in whose memory this race is held each year, who was herself a hardy competitor not easily dissuaded from her goals. The road race volunteers were also goal-focused on Sunday, aiming to host a stellar event for all participants, regardless of what fell from the clouds.   By the end of the day, over 300 people ran or walked the 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) course, 125 people raced on the 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) course, and 50 kids also competed in the 1/2 mile Fun Run-- a terrific showing, especially with the inclement weather.

Ali's Run is held annually to honor the memory of Alison Dunn Packer, a resident of Jamestown and a talented student-athlete at LaSalle Academy who was killed in a car accident in June of 2001. Ali was known for her positive spirit and determined athleticism: while still in ninth grade, Ali was competing in national tournaments on the Rhode Island Olympic Development Team   and helping her freshmen track team win the 4 X 400m relay at the Freshmen State Championship. In the years since her death, local middle schools have taken part in Ali's Challenge, a fitness program that shows kids how to run and walk to attain fitness and maintain their health. It also emphasizes the responsible choices young people can make each day about their nutrition, their safety (e.g. wearing seatbelts), and their futures.

As in the past two years, Ali's Run was held in Fort Getty Park on the first Sunday in June. This year's participants hailed from all over Rhode Island; more than 85 Jamestown residents ran or walked the course. Keven O'Neil from North Kingstown, RI defended his 10K title and set a new course record, 32:23, on the race course which begins at Fort Getty and loops around the Beaver Tail Lighthouse. Jen Blazejewski swept the women's 10K title, also setting a new course record with her time of 41:42. Jamestown residents showcased the 'right stuff' with a number of strong performances, including Andrea Brayman's second place finish in the women's 10K with a time of 42:21. (She was 25 th overall, beating a good portion of the men's field!) Ten-year-old Danielle Hanson, a fifth grade stand-out at the Jamestown Lawn Avenue Middle School, finished third in the under-18 age group in the 10K, and in the top half of the overall 10K field, with a time of 48:20.   

In the 5K race, South County was well represented by Jonathan White of North Kingstown who won in 18:01, followed by Jon Brennan of North Kingstown, RI and Austin Brunero of Saunderstown, RI.   In a tightly contested race on the women's side, Caitlin Crawford of Jamestown beat Jamie Sullivan of North Kingstown by a footstep, finishing 21:09 and 21:10, respectively. Girls from Jamestown swept places 1-3 in the 18-and-under division: Caitlin Crawford took first, Erin Brennan second (21:55) and Katie Randell third (23:14) in that age group.   

  Ali's Run received tremendous support from over 100 volunteers, who helped plan and host the event, and from a number of community groups. Maureen Packer Dunn, mother of the late Alison Dunn, commented on the support the Jamestown community and the residents of South County have offered, "My family greatly appreciates the support we have received...through the enthusiasm and hard work of Ali's extended family and friends...we are happy to give back to the Jamestown community a fun family oriented community event in her name."

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