Tex Mex 5k Race For Open Space Draws Huge Crowd

Editor's note: The following is a press release from Anne Standish, of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association.

Ambler, PA  - June 22, 2012  - The Tex Mex Connection in North Wales celebrated its 23^rd year of hosting the Tex Mex 5K Race for Open Space. The beneficiary is Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the health and beauty of the Wissahickon Creek. The intense heat did not keep the 1,700 runners from enjoying the race and the event that culminates with the :Party Under the Stars" at Tex Mex Connection.

Cory Smith came in first place with a time of 16:02 and Lindsay Cavanaugh was first place female runner with a time of 18:48. Prizes were awarded to the top three male and female runners in age brackets. All results are at http://wvwa.org/tex_mex_5k.htm.

The Tex Mex 5K appreciates the 20 Green Ribbon teams who raise extra funds in support of WVWA's open space preservation. "We Want the Party!", with captain John Tierney, lead the group, having raised over $3,000 for WVWA.

In 2011 Tex Mex Connection gave over $150,000 back to the greater Wissahickon Valley community. Jane Keyes, Tex Mex ‘s owner, is a visionary leader who believes in giving back to the community. She has a particular interest in the environment that is exhibited in her outstanding support for WVWA and everyday business practices. Tex Mex Connection has been recognized as the first green restaurant in Montgomery County. This means that no Tex Mex trash is sent to a landfill - it is all composted. Full scale recycling and composting eliminates 100,000 pounds of trash each year at Tex Mex Connection – a huge impact on the environment. 

The event lead sponsor is National Label Company of Lafayette Hill, and additional sponsors include First Niagara Bank, Amica Insurance, North Wales Running Company, D. E. Walker Heating and Bella-Body/Zerona of Springhouse. Additional sponsors included Merck & Co., Point Tire & Service, National Penn Bank, William May Funeral Home, BDU Corp., Prescott Insurance and the Commonwealth Agency.

Great thanks goes to the 150 volunteers, the North Wales Water Authority, North Penn Fire Police, SEPTA Police and the North Wales Borough Police for their dedicated support of this event.

Since 1957, WVWA has made a critical difference protecting the local environment in the 64 square miles of the Wissahickon Creek’s watershed, working with individuals, local municipalities, Montgomery County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. WVWA protects over 1,200 acres of natural open space in Montgomery County.

Visit www.wvwa.org and find WVWA on Facebook and Twitter

To view additional photos from the event, go to https://picasaweb.google.com/117510363851321527723/TexMex5K12.