(WSB video of all runners and walkers as they left from the starting line)

Yes, it was a race, but the biggest winners in today’s Alki Beach 5K are the cancer patients helped by the organization that presents and benefits from the annual run/walk, Northwest Hope and Healing, whose unique work supporting breast-cancer patients is explained here. This year, 1,040 people were signed up by race time, according to NWHH executive director Shari Sewell.

At right, above, with Shari is Kristi Stone, who was today’s official race-starter. She’s undergoing breast-cancer treatment after being diagnosed late last year. Shari told us that in addition to all the usual fundraising from race participants, one person walked up with a check for $5,000!

(Updated) Full results are here. Below, the top runners, each shown in the photo under her/his name.

TOP THREE FEMALE FINISHERS

1. Kelly Lakeman, 30, 19:25:

2. Margaret Lang, 45, 21:18:

3. Emily Ehlers, 30, 21:20:

TOP THREE MALE FINISHERS

1. Kelly Spady, 28, 16:23:

(Our archives show Spady was also first finisher at the Alki Beach 5K in 2012.)

2. Travis Gradjian, 17, 16:47:

3. Michael Drogalis, 24, 17:02:

Other Alki Beach 5K sights – first, Team Saxby:

As always, it was an all-ages event:

This might just have been the tiniest participant:

Along with runners, walkers, pledgers, donors, and volunteers, major contributors to the Alki Beach 5K’s success include its sponsors – including West Seattle Runner (also a WSB sponsor), whose Lori McConnell and Tim McConnell were there as always:

See the full sponsor team here (it features two other WSB sponsors, Fauntleroy Chiropractic and Salty’s on Alki). This is one of three major fundraisers Northwest Hope and Healing holds annually, along with the “Style” fashion show in the spring, and Women Winemakers of the Pacific Northwest in the fall, coming up November 18th in Georgetown – go here to find out more. You can also donate to the organization any time by going here.