Credit: Clancy Creative/Citizens Pell Bridge Run

The Citizens Pell Bridge Run returns on Sunday, October 20th, for the thirteenth annual 4-mile run/walk across the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. The event, which runs from Jamestown to Newport, is the only day of the year that pedestrians are permitted on the bridge. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Foundation hosts the Citizens Pell Bridge Run, which is produced by Gray Matter Marketing.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with the RITB Foundation, Citizens, and our local sponsors in making this event a yearly highlight,” says Matt Gray, President of Gray Matter Marketing. “The Citizens Pell Bridge Run gets better every year, and with more charitable partners than ever before, the impact on our community is setting up to be largest to date. It’s truly inspiring to see how many runners and walkers from near and far join us each year in support of these amazing organizations.” 

Starting at 5:30 AM on race morning, runners and walkers will be shuttled from the Newport Visitors Center to the race start line in Jamestown. The race itself will begin at 7:15 AM, with participants divided into waves based on pace. Runners and walkers will follow a course on and over the bridge, taking in the sunrise and the stunning fall vistas that the run/walk is known for. They’ll finally descend from the bridge on to Farewell Street, finishing back at the Newport Gateway Center on America’s Cup Avenue. 

“It is incredible that more than $1 million has been donated to date through the Citizens Pell Bridge Run and the RITB Foundation,” says Keith Kelly, State President at Citizens. “We look forward to this event each year and appreciate the opportunity to engage with current and prospective customers, while making a positive impact in the communities we serve.”

This year, the Citizens Pell Bridge Run and the RITB Foundation chose 39 local non-profits that will receive donations from the event. 100% of the proceeds from the event will be donated to these charities since the operating expenses are covered by the contributions from Citizens as title sponsor and the other supporting sponsors. Individuals and teams have raised additional funds online for both the official charities and other causes of their choosing. 

All finishers will be awarded commemorative finisher’s medals upon completion of the course. The local non-profits will provide volunteers at the start, along the course, and at the finish line. 

Registration for runners and walkers is open at www.pellbridgerun.com

2024 CITIZENS PELL BRIDGE RUN BENEFICIARIES

Rhode Island Center for the Book

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

Saint Vincent De Paul Society, St. Joseph Newport

Nathan’s Angels

Samaritans

East Bay Food Pantry

Clagett Sailing

Save the Bay

Looking Upwards

Newport Fall River Star Kids Scholarship Program

Boys and Girls Club of Newport County

Meeting Street

Conexion Latina

North Kingstown Food Pantry

Providence Children’s Museum

Women’s Resource Center

Girls On the Run

Museum Of Newport Irish History

Jamestown Cub Scouts Pack 1

Special Olympics Rhode Island

A Wish Come True

Sojourner House

Newport County YMCA

Fanconi Anemia Research Foundation

James L. Maher Center

Ocean State Waves

Newport Gulls

Day One

Hasbro Children’s Hospital

Pell School PTO- Newport Public Schools

Jamestown Boyscouts Troop 1

Nora’s Haven

Newport Public Education Foundation

John Clarke Retirement Center

Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Haven Box

Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. — Newport Classical

Refugee Youth Solidarity through Education

Rose Island Lighthouse and Fort Hamilton Trust

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

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