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9 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Inaugural race raises $10,000 for United Way To celebrate its 50th anniversary and in support of the Town of Oakville's `Make Your Move' fitness program, Mercedes-Benz Oakville introduced a new community event -- the Mercedes 10k and 1k walk last weekend. It raised nearly $10,000 for the United Way of Oakville and launched one of the largest first year 10k races ever held in Canada. While most races enjoy 300 participants in year one, the inaugural MercedesBenz 10k sold out in advance of the race at 1,000, thanks to a vibrant running community in town. Top prize was a 2009 Mercedes-Benz. "We're extremely pleased with the success of the race," said Mark LeRoeye, general manager, Mercedes-Benz Oakville. "While there were so many great moments of the day, I most enjoyed handing over the keys for a new Mercedes-Benz to Gabrielle Warcop." At the event, Warcop, of Oakville, won a one-year lease of a new Mercedes-Benz B Class ­ the most lucrative prize in the Canadian 10k running calendar. Held by random bib draw, she needed only to finish the "My car is 13 years old and so in need of being replaced. I just can't believe this happened to me. To win a Mercedes-Benz only makes it that much more special." "We're proud of the ability of this event to give back in year one and hope to only do more in 2010," said LeRoeye. "It's important that we do our part to give back, and we're pleased to provide some additional horsepower for the great work that United Way does in Oakville." "We're very pleased the Mercedes-Benz 10k elected United Way of Oakville as their beneficiary," said United Way of Oakville Campaign Cabinet Chair, Ann Mulvale. "Every dollar makes a difference and with nearly $10,000 raised in this first year event, those funds will go a long way to help the nearly 20 per cent of Oakville residents that rely on a United Way funded agency." Official winners of the race were as follows: Men's 10k Run: Predrag Mladenovic (Toronto) 31:13.7. Men's 10k Power-Walk: Hans Dinger (Oakville) 57:51.5. Women's 10k Run: Emily Davidson-Niedova (Toronto) 38:20.6. Women's 10k PowerWalk: Stacey Saunders (Oakville) 60:57.5. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER WORTH THE EFFORT: Mary Pope and Jil Lograno (right) cross the finish line during the first annual Mercedes Benz 10K at Appleby College on Sunday morning. race to be eligible to win the car. "I can't believe I won it", said Warcop. "My friends talked me into signing up for the race. I almost didn't do it, but I'm so glad I did," she said.