12th Annual Laurel Run

Success!

One challenge with putting on an annual event is finding a way to make it fresh each year. With that in mind, Laurel Run organizers kept things interesting by adding several new attractions for 2008.

The 12th annual Laurel Run took place July 18 and 19. As usual, the official festivities began with a kickoff breakfast Friday morning at the Michael J. Raymond Center. Following speeches, a group of employees, service recipients and guests walked together on the sidewalk to Eighth Street, where the first set of runners headed off on the Flag Relay to Dunkirk.

Again this year, students and staff from area schools ran most of the relay legs. What was new for 2008 was that a group of corrections officers from the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Facility in Brocton joined up for the last portion of the relay, from downtown Fredonia to Dunkirk City Hall. Running in cadence, the officers, students, and some TRC staff and service recipients arrived at their destination at about 1:30 to the cheers of dozens of people from TRC and community members. Afterward, everyone enjoyed refreshments as they basked in the satisfaction of a successful opening to Laurel Run.

The next day, the action shifted to Silver Creek, hometown of Laurel Run founders Wayne and Elaine Hotelling. During opening ceremonies, the inaugural Bruce "Wally" Walford Community Service Award was presented. The award is named for the former Manager of TRC's Dunkirk Work Center, who passed away in April 2007. Wally was a central figure on the Laurel Run Planning Committee, so it was decided the award bearing his name would be presented each year at Laurel Run.

The recipients of the first-ever Wally Award were Wayne and Elaine in recognition of all of their volunteer work. Wayne is a members of TRC's Board of Directors, while Elaine serves on several committees. In addition, the retired couple volunteers extensively in the community. Wally’s widow, Laurel, and his father, Slaney, presented the award.

Saturday's Laurel Run events consisted of the usual — a 5-kilometer fitness walk, a 1k fun walk, an 8k run, children's runs, and Laurel's Lap, which is for anyone with a disability. Hoping to get a larger turnout of TRC staff and service recipients, Laurel Run organizers urged Residential staff to try to make it to Silver Creek. The residences responded, with a number of homes making their first appearance at Laurel Run.

During and after the running and walking events, there was a party in the Village Square. The event included musical entertainment by Tony Pearl, “The Great Lakes Drifter”, and massages by Lucille Bryant, Abby Dobler, Martha Lesch, Duane Mallaber, and Tina Rausa. A new addition this year was a display of miniature tractors and fire trucks provided by Julia Manning, Supported Living Specialist at TRC, and her husband. Their display was a hit, with many people excited to get a look at the vehicles, some of which were rare collectors' items.

The other new event this year was a motorcycle dice run. Organized by Suzette Smith, Finance Manager, the event saw 28 participants start out from the Silver Creek Village Square and follow a route that took them to stops in Cassadaga, Ellery Center, Jamestown, and Westfield before returning to Silver Creek. At each checkpoint, drivers and riders rolled a set of dice. Scores were tabulated once everyone had returned to Silver Creek. Adam McKillip, son of TRC Budget Analyst Ann McKillip, was the musical entertainment.

A total of 129 people participated in the 5k Walk, while a record number 109 people completed the 8k Run. In the 8k Run, David Hryvniak was the overall winner in a record time of 27 minutes 8 seconds, shaving 9 seconds off the previous mark. Geoffrey Lesch-Wragge was second in 27:42 while last year’s winner, Joseph Ver, finished third in 28:11. Among women, Susan Munson was first in 32:36, with Amy Fakterowicz second in 33:23 and Lydia Samuelson third in 34:01. The top three male and female finishers each won $100, $75 and $50, respectively.

In the 5k Walk, Christopher Lawson was first, bettering his previous course record by 16 seconds with a time of 29:32. Kelly Morton was first among women in 38:55.

Results for both events can be found at www.wnyfls.com or www.buffalorunners.com

Major sponsors for this year’s Laurel Run were:

Kwik-Fill/Red Apple Food Mart, which again this year sold paper sneakers at participating outlets in Chautauqua and Erie counties in New York ad in Warren County, PA





The Observer, which again this year published a special “Laurel Run” edition of the paper that was sold on street corners and at area businesses July 9. Despite a steady downpour that limited sales and soaked volunteers (and papers!), we sold enough copies to net more than $1,500 for Laurel Run.

Click here to see a complete list of sponsors.

We are grateful to everyone who made this year’s Laurel Run a success. Please join us July 17-18, 2009, for the 13th annual Laurel Run.