Little girl dressed in Supehreo Costume holding woman in superhero costume's hand at start of race. Other racers pictured in background.

United Counseling Service Celebrates Successful 5th Annual Superhero 5K

Community News

Hundreds of people gathered at the Bennington Community Center on Saturday, November 5, to participate in the 5th annual Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash in support of Equine Assisted Therapy at United Counseling Service (UCS). All funds raised directly benefit the program, a therapeutic partnership between Kanthaka Equine of North Bennington and UCS that gives participants the opportunity to address mental health challenges through healing interaction with horses.

The event kicked off at 9:00am with solo participants, whole families and friends taking on the race at their own paces. The first individual to complete the 5K was Isaiah Lewit, age group 13-19, of Manchester, VT, with a time of 18 minutes and 42 seconds, averaging six minutes and 2 seconds per mile. The top three finishers each won a hand-crafted maple cutting board from J.K. Adams in Dorset, VT, paired with artisan cheeses. The top finishers in each age group won a bottle of maple syrup from Glastenview Maple Farm in Shaftsbury, VT.

Bennington’s local National Guard, Bravo Troop, were represented at the event with several members running the race, as well as a few members who supported the event by hosting their own informational table where community members could stop by, ask questions, and get to know Bravo Troop. UCS’s Children, Youth & Family Services and Teens4Change also hosted their own tent, as well as Heritage Family Credit Union and Bennington Appalachian Trail Community.

Local sponsors of the event were Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal, Cigna, Heritage Family Credit Union, GVH Studio, The Richards Group, Better Bennington Corp., MSK Engineering, Northeast Delta Dental, r.k. Miles, Southwestern Vermont Health Care, VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region, Casella, Chiro Med and Rehab, and Hill and Thompson.

UCS looks forward to welcoming even more community members at next year’s Superhero 5K. To learn more about upcoming events at UCS, please visit ucsvt.org/events.

View Race results.

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