'Seacoast Half Marathon Celebrates 20 Years of 'Caring for the Coast' with a Special Anniversary Event

PORTSMOUTH—The organizers of the Seacoast Half Marathon celebrated the event’s 20th year of running and giving with a celebration in Portsmouth on Thursday, May 29. Attendees included the current volunteer organizing committee along with past committee members, longtime race-day volunteers, past and present beneficiaries, the race’s visionary sponsor M&T Bank, and a few runners who have competed in the race every year since 2006.

The famous road race is a 13.1 mile run along a classic New England course that includes Portsmouth, Rye and New Castle, including miles of oceanside running. The race is well known among runners for its stunning beauty and for its success as a distance road-running event and local Seacoast area fundraiser. Each year the race supports a different local charity, with every dollar raised after covering expenses going directly to that year’s beneficiary. The race organizers are all volunteers and include local runners and members of the Seacoast community. Over its 20 year history the race is approaching $2 million raised for local charities.

This year’s beneficiary is The Birchtree Center, a nonprofit serving individuals with autism and other diverse abilities. Executive Director Sandra Pierce-Jordan said, “Birchtree is honored to stand alongside so many outstanding organizations that are making a real difference in our Seacoast community. In all my years, I’ve never seen such a dedicated network of volunteers and nonprofits working together to drive meaningful change.”

Other past beneficiaries include Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Chase Home, the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County, Cornerstone VNA, Cross Roads House, Dover Children’s Home, Families First, Gather, Great Bay Services, Haven, Mainspring, the Market Square Steeple Fund, New Heights: Adventures for Teens, Portsmouth NH 400, Seacoast Mental Health Center, and Womenade. Representatives from many of those organizations attended the event.

Martha Stone, a race committee volunteer and past executive director of Cross Roads House, said “the Seacoast Half Marathon is extraordinary in that volunteers have dedicated 20 years to help support organizations like Cross Roads House who work to improve the lives of Seacoast residents. We’re so grateful for their generosity.” 

Clara Perron, Development Coordinator for Mainspring, the race’s 2024 beneficiary, said “the race didn’t just help us build a new facility in Kittery—it helped build momentum, spread the word, and create a new way of thinking about how we care for our neighbors. This investment has strengthened our region not just for today, but for generations to come.”

During the celebration at the JGroup’s 801 event venue, Seacoast Half Marathon race director Bruce Hurley thanked the JGroup for their generous support of the evening’s festivities. He also took time to thank the hundreds of past volunteers who have helped keep runners safe on course. Hurley gave special recognition to the race’s visionary sponsor M&T Bank, which has been a key event supporter for many years. “Without our volunteers, we couldn’t host this race and without the generosity of M&T Bank and other supporters, our success as a fundraiser for local charities would look quite different. We are so grateful for the trust and support of both,” Hurley said.

“We are proud to continue our collaboration with the Seacoast Half Marathon and support the incredible team behind this all volunteer, community-driven event. This race has exemplified the spirit of the Seacoast for two decades—bringing people together to make a meaningful impact. M&T Bank is committed to our community partners and strives to make a positive impact in peoples’ lives and the communities we serve. We are honored to support this year’s beneficiary, The Birchtree Center, in their mission of helping children with autism and other developmental disabilities lead full and productive lives,” said Tim Wade, M&T Bank’s regional president for New Hampshire.

This year’s race will be held on Sunday, Oct. 26. Registration for the race is open now at www.seacoasthalfmarathon.com. Individuals interested in volunteering at the event can email racedirectorshm@gmail.com.


Current and past members of the Seacoast Half Marathon committee gathered on May 29 to celebrate the race’s 20th anniversary. From left to right are Jay Diener, William “Tuck” Tucker, Martha Stone, Linda Plumer, Karen Monaco, Jeanine Sylvester, Erika Lee, Eric McKenna, Dana McKenna, Dan Beauley, Todd Hanson, Lisa Ade and Bruce Hurley.

Representatives from past Seacoast Half Marathon beneficiaries attending the May 29 event included, from left to right, Peter Bresnahan/Mainspring; Jon Stimmell/Great Bay Services; Meme Wheeler/The Chase Home; Clara Perron/Mainspring; Lily Glenn/The Chase Home; Karen Monaco/Womenade; Jay Couture/Seacoast Mental Health Center; Martha Stone/Cross Roads House; Anne Hayes/Gather; Erika Lee/Cornerstone VNA; Anna Kay Vorsteg/Cross Roads House; Kathy Beebe/Haven; Maureen “Moe” Sullivan/Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County; and Nicole McShane/Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire.