Event Info

In Memory

Kwik Fill’s annual Laurel Run promotion under way

Laurel Run 8k part of new race series

In Memory

2010 Laurel Run dedicated to two of Wayne Hotelling’s formers students

This year’s Laurel Run is dedicated to Olivia Coia, who passed away in March after a battle with breast cancer.

The motorcycle dice run is dedicated to Kenneth Restivo, who died in June 2009.

Ken and Olivia were both former students of Laurel Run founder Wayne Hotelling.

Click here for more information.

Kwik Fill’s annual Laurel Run promotion under way

Through July 18, area residents can show their support for people with disabilities by buying paper sneakers in conjunction with the 14th annual Laurel Run.

For the eighth straight year, United Refining Company’s Kwik Fill and Red Apple Food Mart locations will be selling paper sneakers.  Customers who purchase a sneaker can write their name on the sneaker and have it displayed in the store.  The suggested donation is $1, but donations of any amount are appreciated.

Sneakers will be sold at participating locations in Chautauqua and Erie counties in New York, and in Warren County, PA.  The sneakers bear an image of event namesake Laurel Hotelling.

Last year, the Kwik Fill/Red Apple locations raised $3,848.67 through the Laurel Run sneaker sales.  All the money raised in Chautauqua County goes to TRC Foundation to support disability awareness and prevention efforts, and to enhance employment and work training opportunities for adults with disabilities at The Resource Center’s Work Centers.

Money raised in Erie and Warren counties is split 50/50 between TRC Foundation and an organization that supports people with disabilities in each of those communities.  Money raised in Erie County will be shared with The Heritage Centers, while funds raised in Warren County will be shared with Bollinger Enterprises.

Laurel Run was created by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling of Silver Creek in honor of their oldest daughter, who has Down syndrome.  Laurel Run seeks to raise public awareness about individuals with disabilities while providing an opportunity for people with disabling conditions to come together with their non-disabled peers in a fun, community-wide atmosphere.

This year’s Laurel Run takes place July 16 and 17.  The first day consists of the traditional Jamestown-to-Dunkirk flag relay, which features students and adults from schools throughout Chautauqua County running legs of the relay.  The following day in Silver Creek, featured activities include an 8-kilometer run, a 5k fitness walk, a 1k fun walk, children’s runs, and “Laurel’s Lap,” in which anyone with a disability is invited to take a lap around the track surrounding the village ball field.  There also will be a motorcycle dice run.

Laurel Run 8k part of new race series

TRC Foundation is pleased to announce that the Laurel Run 8-Kilometer Run has been chosen as one of the races in a new yearlong racing series.

The Chautauqua Striders Running & Walking Club recently announced the creation of a Runner of the Year Series.  The series will be composed of 10 races ranging in distance from 3 miles to 15 kilometers.  The series kicks off Saturday, March 13, with the inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Dash, a 3-mile run that begins and ends at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena.  The last race in the series will be the Amy King Memorial 5K on Thanksgiving Weekend in Lakewood.

There will be separate divisions for males and females.  Anyone who enters one of the 10 series races automatically is entered into the Runner of the Year Series.  Participants will try to accumulate points in the overall competition and in the age-group competition.

For the overall competition, points will be awarded in each race as follows:

Points also can be earned in the following age groups: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and older.  Points in the age-group competition will be awarded as follows:

For purposes of consistency, a competitor’s age for ALL of the series races will be that person’s age as of December 31, 2010.  So, if you’re 39 the day of Laurel Run on July 17 and you’ll be turning 40 later in the year, you’ll be competing in the 35-39 group for Laurel Run awards, but for the Runner of the Year Series you will be competing in the 40-49 group.

For more information about the Runner of the Year Series, visit the Chautauqua Striders web site at www.chautauqua-striders.org.  Those interested in running in this weekend’s first series race, the St. Patrick’s Day Dash, can find information about that event on the Chautauqua Striders web site.

Proceeds from Laurel Run support disability awareness and prevention initiatives.  Money raised through Laurel Run also is used to enhance employment and work training opportunities for adults with disabilities.

For more information about Laurel Run, call (716) 483-2344.