Million Dollar Race

Employee runners race for a cure

In the early 2000s when a beloved teammate lost his wife to cancer, a group of GE Appliances employees who ran together socially banded together to support him. They had trained for the GE Appliances-sponsored Derby Festival miniMarathon together and decided to take things to another level.

Incorporating their love of running with fundraising for cancer research seemed like the best way to honor their friend. They formed a group called Close the Gap and headed to Oregon for the Hood to Coast relay. From the iconic top of Mount Hood to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, the team raced overnight, taking turns running and sleeping.

With each passing year, the team evolved.

Bruce Albertson Jr., senior commercial director for global specialty products at GE Appliances, joined the team and quickly experienced a unique camaraderie.

“At 2 a.m., running in the dark, you start thinking, ‘What in the world am I doing?’” says Bruce. “Then you finish the relay asking when can you do it again!”

Most of the team’s fundraising came from family, friends, and co-workers. This year, the team will hit a major fundraising milestone —$1 million for cancer research.

Close the Gap’s next race is in August of 2024, and giving has already begun. These days, the team raises money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. You can join their cause and help them hit the $1 million mark here.

Where it started is still going: Be a part of Derby Festival Mini-Marathon on April 27

GE Appliances is teaming up with the Kentucky Derby Festival as title sponsor of the 2024 Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon on Saturday, April 27.

If you want to run in this year’s miniMarathon or Marathon you can sign up here

If you want volunteer at the race this weekend, sign up here.