2nd Pell Bridge Run held in Newport

NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) – More than 2,000 people participated in this year’s Citizens Bank Pell Bridge run on Sunday.

Participants could walk or run the four mile course over the Newport bridge.

The top runner on the male side was Geoff Nelson of Providence and the top runner on the women’s side was Kristin Bull of Melbourne, Australia.

The youngest competitors were four eight year olds and the older was Helen DiDonato of South Kingstown who celebrated her 88th birthday on Sunday.

One man even proposed to his girlfriend at the top of the bridge with family members looking on.  She said yes.

The Citizens Bank Pell Bridge Run is sponsored by Newport Hospital and raises money for local non-profits that promote healthy lifestyles.

Some of the non-profits include the YMCA, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, Special Olympics of Rhode Island, Meeting Street and March of Dimes in Rhode Island.