100-mile relay in McCandless benefits North Hills Community Outreach

At least 200 pairs of sneakers will be needed on May 18 to finish the Miles2Meals 100-mile relay, an event that benefits North Hills Community Outreach.

Two teams of 100 people will meet that morning at the track at North Allegheny Intermediate High School, off Cumberland Road in McCandless.

Runners complete 1 mile before handing off a baton to the next member of their 100-person team, said Vincent Rotunno, who organizes the race with NAI teacher Jason Winschel. When runner No. 100 crosses the finish line, the baton will have traveled a full 100 miles and the team’s total time will be registered,

“Within these 100-person teams, participants are encouraged to sign up in groups of five so that they are grouped together and can show up together and hand off the baton to their friends or family,” said Rutonno, a McCandless resident and 2023 North Allegheny graduate.

This is the second year for the fundraiser, which gives 100% of what it raises to the NHCO, Rotunno said.

Registration is open through May 4, and the cost is $5 plus a $2.30 online service fee. Registration closes at 200. To sign up, visit www.miles2meals.com. Race times will be provided once registration is closed.

The event features games, food trucks, music, and T-shirt and concession sales as the race is happening.

“I came up with the idea last year during my senior year in cohorts with my middle school cross country coach,” Rutonno said about Winschel. “He grew up in Mt. Lebanon, and so that is where the inspiration came from. We wanted to create a fundraiser race that was different from traditional 5k and 10k runs and had more of a festival feel.”

In 1976, a 200-mile relay race was held in Mt. Lebanon to celebrate the American Bicentennial, with the similar concept of 200 runners each racing a mile.

The Miles2Meals event is sponsored through local businesses and the NA Table Tennis Club.

“We received a lot of donations from people that did not run, as well as people who did. I found that people really appreciated that it was a local cause, as NHCO operates three food banks in Allegheny County,” said Rotunno, who now attends Ohio University.

Last year, Miles2Meals raised nearly $8,000. This year’s goal is $10,000 for NHCO, which operates three food pantries, in Allison Park, Avalon and Millvale.

“We are grateful for (Vincent’s) support. Most of our fundraisers go towards our general funds, which supports all our services,” said Jeff Geissler, spokesperson for NHCO. “Food pantry, services for seniors and utility assistance tend to be our most sought after services.”

For more information, visit www.nhco.org/services and Miles2Meals’ LinkedIn and Instagram pages.