NEW SALEM, Mass. – Victoria Rose Gaignard’s presence was strong at The Village Ultra. Her story was heard by runners and walkers as they registered and by passersby on foot and bike who stopped to inquire about the event. Her picture was placed prominently at race headquarters, as well as at each of the four bead stations along the course, reminding participants why they were there.

The seventh annual Village Ultra took place Sept. 2-3, 2023, on the Town Common in New Salem, Mass. This year’s event raised money to fund dance scholarships through the Victoria Rose Scholarship Fund. The Village Ultra is a noncompetitive event where runners had up to 24 hours to run or walk as many miles as they wanted on four separate loops, all while supporting a good cause and celebrating the memory of Victoria Rose Gaignard, the scholarship’s namesake.

The seventh annual Village Ultra took place Sept. 2-3, 2023, in New Salem, Mass. This year’s event raised money to fund dance scholarships through the Victoria Rose Scholarship Fund. Runners had up to 24 hours to run or walk as many miles as they wanted on four separate loops, all while supporting a good cause and celebrating the memory of Victoria Rose Gaignard, the scholarship’s namesake. The following are a small sample of photos from the weekend. A full photo gallery can be viewed on the MassUltra Facebook page.

Since its founding in 2017, the Village Ultra has supported a new organization each year with the goal of making a positive impact. It began with helping a family with a child needing medical treatment for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, and in later years raised funds for R.C. Mahar Regional Middle School and High School, the Swift River School in New Salem, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), and a LGBTQIA+ youth support organization called The Trevor Project.

When the U.S. Supreme Court in late June overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating abortion as a constitutional right and opening the door to states to completely ban the medical procedure, Village Ultra founder Carla Halpern knew what the 2022 event would support: the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts.

The Village Ultra was founded in 2017 with a pair of goals: create endurance running and walking opportunities in New Salem, Mass., and raise money for important causes.

When Carla Halpern started the Village Ultra in 2017, she did so with the goals of supporting good causes and providing an endurance opportunity in her community.