For the City Times

NEW LONDON – The Sturgeon Shuffle 10K Run and 5K Run/Walk wrapped up a successful eighth year on Saturday, April 28. A total of 410 individuals ages 4 through 81 registered for this fun, family-friendly event that promotes health and wellbeing in our communities.

Barb Bondioli with Rapids Family Backpacks in Wisconsin Rapids receives a check of $1,500 from Sturgeon Shuffle committee member, Brenda Hansen. (Contributed)

The 10K event kicked off at 9:30 am with 75 registered runners competing. April Hanson, age 27, of Clintonville won the overall 10K race with a time of 40 minutes 14 seconds. The 5K event followed with 338 runners and walkers participating. Logan Horn, age 13, of New London was the overall top finisher of the 5K race with a time of 20 minutes 21 seconds. In total, over 80 awards were given to the top three male and female finishers in each youth and adult age division of each race. Race results can be found at www.sturgeonshuffle.com.

Also on Saturday, the Sturgeon Shuffle Committee donated $15,000 in net proceeds raised from this year’s event to three area backpack organizations. These not for profit organizations coordinate with schools to provide backpacks of nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to students, so that they have enough food to eat on weekends. Donations were based upon each organization’s scope of service as well as sponsor and participant support. Project Backpack in New London received a check for $9,000; Project Backpack Waupaca which serves the Waupaca, Manawa, Weyauwega-Fremont, Iola-Scandinavia, and Amherst school districts received $4,500; and Rapids Family Backpacks which serves the Wisconsin Rapids School District including the community of Rudolph was presented with a check for $1,500.

First State Bank took the baton from ThedaCare Foundation – New London this year as lead sponsor of the Sturgeon Shuffle; staff members from the bank also joined the Sturgeon Shuffle Committee to organize this year’s event. Nearly 40 businesses and organizations from across the area also sponsored the Sturgeon Shuffle in 2018