Walk to End Alzheimer’s & Paws and Pumpkins 5K: Two Fall Charity Events in Cattaraugus County
Walk to End Alzheimer’s & Paws and Pumpkins 5K: Two Fall Charity Events in Cattaraugus County
Two community walks this fall bring people together for Alzheimer’s awareness and animal rescue support.
Fall is here and with it brings two great outdoor events - the Southern Tier Walk to End Alzheimer’s® on Saturday, September 27th, and The Friends of Little Valley’s Annual 5K Run & Walk on Saturday, October 4th. EllicottvilleNOW caught up with the organizers of both events to bring you the latest details.
WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S
Join the Alzheimer’s Association at JCC’s Olean campus for the annual walk to honor those living with Alzheimer’s or who have passed from it, and to show support for their caregivers. The fundraising event also raises awareness of the ongoing fight to end the disease. The Southern Tier walk is one of over 600 nationwide of its kind. This year, the organization has a goal of raising $75,000 by Walk day, with teams and participants eligible to make donations and request pledges from family members, friends, and community members as well.
Registration for the walk is free, and participants can join teams or form their own if they wish. The Alzheimer’s Association will provide tips of how to successfully request donations and to raise funds and awareness throughout participants’ communities.
This year’s Southern Tier Walk has 123 participants and 34 teams registered so far, and has raised over $45,000 towards its goal at the time of writing.
“This is a pivotal moment in the fight against Alzheimer’s. There are now treatments that change the course of the disease,” said Kaitlyn Less, Director of Development for the Western New York Chapter, by way of email. “We hope that everyone in the community can join us to help the Alzheimer’s Association raise awareness and funds for families facing the disease today, take more steps toward treatments and finally end this disease.”
To participate, visit act.alz.org/SouthernTierWNY. Select “Register” and answer a few short questions.
The annual Southern Tier Walk to End Alzheimer’s® takes place September 27th at Jamestown Community College’s Olean Campus, located at 260 N. Union Street. Doors open at 9:00am for check-in or registration. Light refreshments and activities will be provided. A Promise Flower ceremony begins at 10:00am followed by the start of the walk at 10:15am. All donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are tax-deductible. Every participant who raises $100 or more in donations will receive a commemorative t-shirt. Children are allowed with registration and a guardian. Strollers and well-behaved dogs are also allowed. Visit the event website for additional information or contact Kiernan Hayward at kthayward@alz.org for more details.
PAWS AND PUMPKINS 5K
The following week, The Friends of Little Valley invite you to join their aptly named “Paws and Pumpkins” 5K Run & Walk benefiting Empire Animal Rescue Society (E.A.R.S.) out of Salamanca. The second annual 5K kicks off at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 4th. Registration begins at 11:00am and the race starts at 12:00pm sharp. EllicottvilleNOW caught up with Connor Hellwig of The Friends of Little Valley, the event organizers, for comments.
“We did a benefit 5K last year, which was the first,” he said. “We raised money for the Saving Grace Outreach, which is a food pantry in Cattaraugus.” Connor explained that the event outgrew last year’s venue, which is why they chose the fairgrounds for this year’s race, which will benefit E.A.R.S., a foster-home-based, volunteer run animal rescue organization.
“There were about 85 runners last year and the expectation is about the same this year,” he said. Hellwig added that embellishments to this year’s event include a basket raffle and food trucks - The Pig-Out Place and Off Duty Desserts.
Business sponsorships are once again available, and he emphasized will include the option for t-shirt sponsorship, a basket raffle, or any other substitution. “We’ve had good response to that,” he said.
To register for the race, go to https://runsignup.com/race/ny/littlevalley/pawspumpkins5k and pay the $25 registration fee. Each runner will receive a complimentary t-shirt and bib, as well as a goodie bag, which Connor said is new for this year. Medals will be awarded for the top finishers in various race categories, as well as a “cutest pet” contest and a Halloween costume contest. Participants are encouraged to dress up in costume if they wish. Pre-registration ends September 19th and is strongly encouraged, however, sign-up will be available on race day with no guarantee of a t-shirt or goodie bag. For sponsorship opportunities, individuals or businesses can contact the organizers directly at littlevalleyhappenings@gmail.com. Check out the race website for additional information or message Little Valley Happenings via Facebook or the email listed.