The first-ever Ajvar 5K Run/Walk, held at the Bluemont Park in Arlington, Virginia on September 9th and organized by Ajvar, LLC and the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD), was a overwhelming success bringing together over 150 runners, walkers, and friends to raise funds for orphans in Macedonia. Over $6,000 was raised in cash and in-kind donations. Scott Schraff of Phoenix, Arizona was the first to finish at 17 minutes and 49 seconds.
“Being our first year organizing Ajvar 5K, we had a fantastic turnout, and runners/walkers were of very diverse backgrounds and age groups,” said Ajvar, LLC Co-Founder Beti Arsovska. “I cannot be more pleased with how the day went, the great weather we had, and the enthusiasm of all runners/walkers to help orphans in Macedonia.”
“Donations raised will help UMD’s Fund for Macedonian Children, which will offer assistance to orphanages in Macedonia in terms of hygienic supplies for the orphans’ healthy development and growth, as well as clothing,” said Ajvar, LLC Co-Founder Bernard Pesjak. “We are pleased that Pencils 4 Kids International, the non-profit founded by Macedonia’s first Ambassador to the U.S., Ambassador Ljubica Z. Acevska has partnered with our initiative and will donate school supplies for the orphans.”
Winners in the various age groups: 9 years old and younger – Ryan Brown; 10-19 years female and male winners – Alley Bedell and Abdullah Sashyouni; 20-29 female and male winners – Krista Reusche and Alex Bogetic; 30-39 female and male winners – Tiffany Torres and Max Russel; 40-49 female and male winners – Virginia Crabtree and Scott Schraff; 50-59 female and male winners – Beth Bedell and John Bacon; 60-69 female and male winners: Kelley Stephen and Jack Dougherty; 70 years and up was Tim Fearrell. We thank our volunteers and congratulate all the winners and we hope to see them again at next year’s Ajvar 5K.
UMD Regional Representative for Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia and the Ajvar 5K MC Zhikica Pagovski said, “this event would not have occurred had it not been for the leadership and stewardship of Beti Arsovska and Bernard Pesjak. They brought this idea to UMD and we were thrilled to make it part of our charitable projects to help orphans in Macedonia.”
“We were so pleased with the support for the first-ever Ajvar 5K that we have decided to make this an annual gathering and have already set the date for next year – Sunday, September 8, 2013 to coincide with the 22nd Anniversary of Macedonia’s Independence,” said UMD President Metodija A. Koloski. “We are also looking into adding Chicago and Toronto as possible locations for the Ajvar 5K.”
Ajvar, LLC and UMD would like to sincerely thank all the sponsors and donors that contributed to this important cause: Euro Foods, Cosmopolitan Grill, Whole Foods, Gold’s Gym, Pencil for Kids International, Subway – Arlington Forest, Lutz Dommel European Affairs, Celeste Benjamin Tracy, Coco Fitness, Max Muscle, Nova Foot and Ankle Center, Evermay, Thomas N. Taneff, Magdalena Kusemileva, Borko Handjiski, Vera and Ljupka Arsovi, Mark Mitskoski, Mihajlo and Natasa Tekic, Silvana Chambers, Goran Gjorjijevski, Tatiana Erekovcanski, Vladimir and Stephanie Atseff, Konstantin Nakovski, Rajna Nikolovska-Angelovska, Harris Teeter, Luna Sandals, Miroslav Jojic, Jane Bojadzieski, Robert Poredos, Halima Korkut, Lena Feric, Milka Trajkova, Rama Sohonee. Without their support, Ajvar 5K would not have been as successful!
Ajvar 5K results, pictures and media coverage can be all seen by visiting http://www.ajvar5k.com. We are still accepting donations to help orphans in Macedonia.
———
Donate to support UMD’s important work for Macedonia and Macedonian issues by clicking HERE. (Canadians should click http://www.canadahelps.org and search “United Macedonian Diaspora” to donate) – All donations from Canadian and U.S. donors are tax-deductible.