The 17th Great Pumpkin Fun Run on Saturday, October 27, 2012, was a celebration of joy and heart health. Here's why:
There were 2,500 runners, walkers, and volunteers—many of whom were in wonderful Halloween costumes, including Twiddledee and Twiddledum (they were dancing fools as well), Teletubbies, a bottle of Ketchup, Spiderman, Gumby, a frankfurter, and many more.
There were wonderful long- sleeved T-shirts, picturing the Great Pumpkin in a scarecrow costume and highlighting the Texas Heart Institute's 50th Anniversary logo.
The weather was on the chilly side, but the enthusiasm of the crowd and the rhythmic tunes of The Guzzlers were, well, heart warming.
The perennial favorite, the Children's Costume, featuring 32 kids,age infant to 5, and masterful emceeing by Dr. Billy Cohn, elicited numerous ohhs and ahhs.
Dr. James T. Willerson, THI President, thanked the crowd and introduced Leo Manzano, 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist in the 1500 meters and special ambassador for THI.
THI Founder, Dr. Denton A. Cooley, welcomed everyone and applauded them for their interest in heart health.
There was a contingent of volunteers second to none.
The Texas Heart Institute was the grateful beneficiary of broad-based support.
WITH GRATITUDE
We at the Texas Heart Institute are mindful that an event of this magnitude would not be possible without the unselfish support of corporations, organizations and individuals.
We wish to thank:
MAJOR SPONSOR
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas,Inc.
SPONSORS:
Bank of Houston
Coca-Cola
The Morton A. Cohn Family
John Daugherty Realtors
Health & Fitness Sports Magazine
Heart Exchange Support Group, Inc.
Jack 103.7
104.1 KRBE
Linn Energy
Mucho Pizza
Porter Hedges LLP
The Sports Authority
St.Luke’s Episcopal Health System
Tony’s Restaurant
United Airlines
Watermill Express
DOOR PRIZES & OTHER SPECIAL SUPPORT:
Alley Theatre
Baba Yega Restaurant
Barry's Pizza
Benjy's
Café Express
Carrabba’s Italian Grill - Kirby Drive/South Voss
Christie's Seafood & Steaks
Chuy's
ComedySportz
El Tiempo Cantina
Fogo De Chao Churrascaria
Galveston Island Railroad Museum
Goode Company Restaurants
Gulf Greyhound Park
Houston Astros
Houston Ballet - Wortham Center
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Symphony
The Houstonian Hotel
Katz Coffee
Laurenzo’s
Lone Star Flight Museum
Lupe Tortilla's Mexican Restaurants
Mark's American Cuisine
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Niko Niko's Greek & American Café
Ouisie's American Bistro
Perry's Restaurants
Pico's Mex-Mex Restaurant
Prego/Hugo's/BackstreetCafé
Prima Pasta
Riviana Foods, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Rodriguez
Ruggles Green @ River Oaks
Smashburger
Taste of Texas Restaurant
Theatre Under the Stars
The Westin Galleria & Westin Oaks
COUPONS:
Mahatma Rice
Minute Rice
Shipley Do-Nuts
Success Rice
The Sports Authority
RACE DIRECTOR:
Jack McClintic
VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS:
Danae Stephenson
Kristen Matthews
We also wish to thank Rice Epicurean Markets for their assistance.
