On a sunny, chilly Sunday morning of Christmas in Edgartown, almost 100 race participants lined up in front of the iconic Harbor View Hotel for the Teddy Bear Trot 5K fundraising run, which happened to end at the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite.
This event has grown significantly since last year’s inaugural race, thanks to Kimberly Kirk and the Vineyard Hurricanes Youth Running Club. With their help, we were able to have the race timed, and made official! This was a big incentive for Island runners and those visiting as well.
The cold did not deter festive attire or runners who came from as nearby as Edgartown and as far away as Utah. There was a level of enthusiasm that you could feel.
There was even a Fun Run for the kiddos, with the 5k race and walk starting shortly after.
The course went through town, out to the Katama General Store and back — one of the most scenic routes one could run. Also, a very different route for a race on Martha’s Vineyard.
The Club’s mascot, Club Cub, was on hand to make the event even more fun. Jessie Damroth’s son, Logan Nairn was nice enough to take on the task of being this fun loving bear to keep us in the spirit of the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite!
We even had medals for 1st place in a variety of categories, and for our 2nd & 3rd place participants, we had locally made treats, Not Your Sugar Mamas chocolate bars, and Murdick’s Fudge! 
I have to mention a couple awards – the Best Holiday Dressed Male went to Anthony Holland, from Vineyard Haven. His all red attire, complete with Santa shorts was perfection!
It was so much fun to see so much red, a sea of santa hats, and the occasional ugly sweater. Also, knowing that all the money raised was going to the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club’s Healthy Happy Kids made people all the merrier.
At the end of the race, there was even hot chocolate (and of course water) for the race participants.
The Teddy Bear Trot raised a significant amount of money for the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club – $1,700!! Thank you so much to Joe Schroeder, from the Martha’s Vineyard High School for timing, Kimberly Kirk and the VIneyard Hurricanes Youth Running Club, who helped to organize the race, Allison Fisher, from Point B Realty, for raising $300 in sponsors for her run.
We’d also like to thank the Harbor View Hotel, Not Your Sugar Mamas, Murdick’s Fudge, and all the amazing volunteers who helped the day of: Dana Munn, Kelly McCracken, Emma Kennedy, Katie Brown, Donald Brown, Dianne Booth, Robert Lionette, Catherine Cherry, Vito Aiello, and Todd Silva, the Edgartown Police Department, and of course all the participants! Thank you all!!!
For a full list of stats from the race, click here.
The Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite has been so popular, and so successful, we have extended it. It is now open thru Saturday, September 17th, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
With the extended hours comes a new goal! To date with the help of the Teddy Bear Trot and donations, the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite has raised more than $16,000. The new goal is $20,000 for the Happy Healthy Kids, the Club’s new initiative to help battle childhood hunger on the Island, click here for more.
If you can’t visit the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite but want to help, you can donate online. See our Donation Page