Thatcher Markham Memorial Run seeking volunteers

In association with Bridgefest 2022, the Thatcher Markham Memorial Run will be held on Friday, June 17 and they are seeking volunteers. Presented by Aspirus Health, the race will start on the corner of Quincy St. and Scott St. in Hancock and finish at Bridgeview Park in Houghton.

Volunteers are needed for Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17 with packet pickup, as well as race setup on Friday. For anyone interested in volunteering, contact Ryan Towles at ratowles@mtu.edu. For anyone interested in participating in the race, registrations for the 5K Run and 5K Non-Competitive Walk end on June 15.

About Thatcher Markham Memorial Run

Come and run or walk with or in front of your family, friends, and neighbors.  We are proud to honor the memory of Thatcher Markham with this 5K run/walk event that supports the Copper Country Junior Hockey Association and Pigs ‘N Heat (Copper Country Police and Fire Relief Fund) in their missions to promote youth sports and support local fire/crime victims in the Copper Country.  Thatcher’s family and our community tragically lost Thatcher at 12 years old as a victim of the 2018 Father’s Day flood in northern Houghton County. His memory has lived on through many local events and remembrances and this race is another way to make sure he is never forgotten by everyone in the Copper Country.  It is also fitting that remembering Thatcher will help us with assisting local youth sports – Thatcher himself was a longtime CCJHA player – and local first-responders in their charitable work.

This race is your only opportunity to run/walk through downtown Hancock and Houghton and over the Portage Lake Lift Bridge on closed streets.  The running race and non-competitive walk (5K, 3.1 miles) precedes the 2022 Bridgefest parade – starting at the west end of downtown Hancock and finishing in downtown Houghton.  You can participate in this event and not miss the parade too!  The finish will be in Bridgeview Park, just a block off the parade route.

This will be a first-class event with T-Shirts for all participants, professional chip timing and results, an accurate distance with mile splits, overall and age group awards, and safe race conditions.  Not to mention probable great weather and an awesome time racing in front of a huge crowd!

Add to your Bridgefest experience with a fun, fitness-oriented event.  Support great causes and remember a fine young man.  Set a goal, challenge yourself, and enjoy the comradery of your community both on the course and lining both sides of the street as you go by.  This is a great warm-up event to prep for the Canal Run in Hancock (July 16, 2022).