The Brunswick Naval Museum and Memorial Gardens will be holding their first annual four-mile road race on May 28, at 8:30 a.m. Race coordinator and director as well site director for the Bath YMCA at Brunswick Landing Charlie Ault said the race is a fundraiser for the museum to keep up the former base chapel and grow their collection.
The Naval Museum is a nonprofit organization, currently occupying one small wing of the building it purchased in December for $220,000. The current collection includes old photos, squadron items and a P-3 Orion simulator.
Ault said that although some properties on the base were transferred by the Navy to other nonprofits free of charge, the museum had to purchase theirs.
Ault said the YMCA will be hosting the event, allowing runners to use their facilities for changing and staging before the race.
The relatively flat course will begin at the museum and continue out to Ordinance Road where runners will turn around at the Army Reserve building and return.
Ault said due to the proximity to Memorial Day, there will be a pre-race ceremony to honor all who have served in both war time and peace as well as those who sacrificed their lives for their country.
Fleet Feet Maine Running will give a free shirt to the first 50 runners who register. Ault said he expects between 75 and 100 runners for this inaugural event. The Navy will also be giving free water bottles to the first 50 registrants.
Ault said people can pick up their shirt and bottle at Fleet Feet on Maine Street, Brunswick or at the WMCA the day of the race.
Ault said many volunteers have come out to support the event, even donating fees for the official timer. Ault said
the help has allowed monies collected from the race to go where they are intended — straight to the museum. Race fees are $15 for civilians and $10 for active duty and military veterans. Runners can register at brunswicknavalmuseum.org. Top male and female runners will receive $50 gift cards.
dmcintire@timesrecord.com
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