The 10th annual Gleason Family YMCA 5K Road Race, held in Onset on Saturday, May 19, was a family affair for many.

Participants from age 8 to age 71 walked or ran the route, which began at the Onset Pier, offered water views from Onset's historic streets, and ended back at the pier.

While the YMCA 5K has grown increasingly popular for individuals and athletes who use the event to qualify for other races in the region, families are always a big part of the race, which raises funds for the Y's scholarship program. The scholarship program gives financial aid to families who cannot otherwise afford Y memberships, classes, and camp.

The event raised $3,000 for the Y. Organizers thanked sponsors Marc Anthony’s for providing pizza, Dunkin Donuts for coffee and donuts, Coca Cola of Cape Cod for bottled water, Lori Watkins, LMT, for souvenir water bottles, Wareham Pediatrics, Greater Graphics, Eastern Bank, Southcoast Hospital Group, and the Law Office of Scott Brilliant.

Some families opted to run together, while others worked on their personal best times.

"It must be a family affair!" Gleason Family YMCA Wellness Director Lu Brito kept saying as he announced the first-, second-, and third-place winners in various categories -- noticing that many of the winners had the same last name.

The YMCA 5K is also popular among beginners.

Denise Machado of Westfield, whose friend Susan Asaro, a Wareham resident, convinced her to run in the 5K, was running for the first time.

"I wanted to run a 5K before I turned 50," said Machado, noting that her birthday is exactly one month after the date of the race. "I just started running," she added. "I'm turning 50 and I know I've got to do something [active]."

Asaro was participating for the second time.

"This is a great event. It's great to support the kids," Asaro said. "There's a sense of community that makes you feel a part of something bigger than yourself."

The first-, second-, and third-place overall male winners were Moreira Alexandro of Boston, Daniel Croteau of Acushnet, and Ken Gartmer of West Falmouth, respectively.

The female overall winners were Anne Preisig of Falmouth, Ella Martin of Woods Hole, and Kate Hughes of Rochester.

"The 5K Road Race is a fun way to raise much-needed dollars for the annual Financial Aid Fund. We have a large gap between what we give out and what we raise annually," said Laura Prisco, executive director of the Gleason Family Y. "Not only is this event a fundraiser, but it also serves as an activity families can participate in together ... all for a good cause."