File photo / Jim Neuger
Steve deCastro, president and CEO of Gorham Savings Bank.
Updated: July 22, 2020
Gorham Savings Maine Marathon joins growing list of virtual fundraisers during COVID-19
Courtesy / Gorham Savings Bank
The 2020 Gorham Savings Bank Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay will join a growing list of virtual fundraisers in the state this year. Registered participants will have between Sept. 26 and Oct. 12 to complete their race of choice.
Gorham Savings Bank on Monday announced plans to make this year's Maine Marathon a virtual event, the latest fundraiser to go that route this year during the pandemic.
The event joins a growing list of virtual charity events in Maine that includes the American Lung Association's Trek Across Maine cycling fundraiser, which raised $550,000 to support COVID-19 research and lung health.
Upcoming virtual charity events include the Maine Cancer Foundation's Tri for a Cure in the month of August.
Since its inception in 1997, the Gorham Savings Bank Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay and their participants have raised more than $5.2 million for local charities. In 2019, the marathon drew 3,800 registered participants, 3,300 of whom finished the race.
While this year's event would normally have been held in Portland on Sunday, Oct. 4, registered runners will have between Sept. 26 and Oct. 12 to run the virtual event of their choosing.
Title sponsor Gorham Savings also promised to cover all costs for the event so that it can donate all the proceeds directly to nonprofit race beneficiaries.
“The pandemic has affected us all, and non-profits are some of the hardest hit. We’re committed to doing everything we can to help our communities and sponsoring this virtual marathon is a great way to help these important beneficiaries,” said Gorham Savings Bank President and CEO Steve deCastro in a news release.
This year’s race beneficiaries include: Teens to Trails, Wayside Food Programs, Port Resources, Pihcintu Multinational Girls Chorus, Shawnee Peak Adaptive and Spurwink, which provides behavioral health and education services for children, adults and families.
“As you can see from the 2020 beneficiaries list, the depth and breadth of services provided fill so many important needs." deCastro said. We’re honored to play a small role on their path towards providing food, comfort, friendship, harmony, and education.”
'Difficult but right' decision
“This is obviously a difficult decision for us,” said Bob Dunfey, volunteer race director, “but we feel it’s the right one. We’re so grateful to Gorham Savings Bank for stepping up. Their sponsorship allows us to provide local charities, many of whom have seen their revenues and fundraising plummet, obtain much needed financial support.”
Asked about attendance expectations this year, he noted that races like the Maine Marathon are more appealing for social reasons than competitive, making virtual events less appealing than in-person ones.
"We draw runners from every state and many countries because they want to enjoy what Maine and Greater Portland offers while entering a highly regarded running event with a beautiful course," Dunfey told Mainebiz via email this morning. "I expect potentially there will be only 10% to 25% as many entrants in the virtual events."
Dunfrey also said that virtual events are significantly less work to organize than an in-person event, and that in a normal year 900 volunteers are on hand to help both with the race itself and related activities.
"With the virtual race," he said, "we will provide self-service bibs and finisher certificates and results. After the runner sends in their results our vendor will send out shirt and medal. Two of us can handle these activities. We plan to provide markings for turns and miles on the Maine Marathon course and possibly other support like water. Several volunteers would be needed to maintain these features" over the course of 17 days.
Participants will be able to complete their chosen race independently or on the traditional race course, where mile markers will be present.
Runners who have already registered for the road race have the option of signing up for the virtual race and either donating the remainder of their entry fee or request a refund for the cost difference. And those who choose not to run in 2020 can donate their entry fee, defer their entry fee to the 2021 race, or request a refund online.
Maine-based nonprofits interested in being considered as a beneficiary for 2021 can apply online through December 15, 2020 here.
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