10,000 run, walk for breast-cancer center in Youngstown's Panerathon

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Toni Beckinger lost before she even got to the starting line for her first attempt at running the Panerathon.

But her loss was largely what brought her there in ther first place.

"As of this past Tuesday, I have lost 100 pounds," said the North Carolina native who now resides in Warren. "This is my very first attempt at something like this. The first of many, I hope."

The Panerathon has been downtown for the past five years, and raises money to support the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown. Participants can enter either a 2-mile or a 10K race, and are free to walk or run.

For the third year in a row, there was also a free Kids Run for children ages 4-12.

This year's Panerathon was Sunday morning, with the Covelli Centre serving as race-central, where the races began and ended. Thousands of people, sporting bright shirts that covered every color in the rainbown - and then some - turned out to be a part of it.

Allen Ryan, director of corporate affairs for Covelli Enterprises, which sponsors the event, said the numbers have grown by 20 to 30 percent each year. It's become the largest fund-raising event in the Youngstown area.

"I would be comfortable saying that we'll have over 10,000 people taking part this year," said Ryan. "It's really become the signature event for the community."

Read the full story with photographs Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com