Rotary First 5K Charity Race to Benefit Open Door

On April 9, 2011, the Glens Falls Rotary will host its first annual 5K race/walk to benefit the Open Door Mission. The race, which will be named The Rotary 5K will start and end at the SUNY Adirondack campus on Bay Road in Queensbury. SUNY Adirondack is also one of the primary sponsors of the race.

The club intends to make this an annual fundraising event to help support local agencies who may need additional financial support to carry out their work in the community. Each year the Glens Falls club donates thousands of dollars to charitable organizations who may need financial help. "We think we can do more to help and we certainly are seeing the increased need in the past few years," said David Bogue, Public Relations Director for the club. "The 5k Race will be the first time we have organized an event like this but we have quite a few experienced runners in our club who also have managed other race events. With the help of SUNY Adirondack we think we can establish an exciting and healthy event for the community that will benefit a lot of people."

The club chose the Open Door Mission in Glens Falls as its first local organization to be the recipient of the proceeds from the race. Said President Kevin O'Brien, "We are acutely aware of the needs of all the organizations in our community, but we felt strongly that Open Door really needed some additional support with all they have been through recently. They serve thousands of people each year who have fallen on hard times, reaching out and serving the needs of the homeless and unfortunate of our community. They are working hard to help those marginalized citizens who have nowhere else to go.”

The Rotary 5K, which has been accredited by USA Track and Field, will begin and end at the SUNY Adirondack campus. Race Director Jim Goodspeed emphasized that, "It's a relatively flat course winding past the Glen at Hiland Meadows, down Meadowbrook Road to Cronin Road and back up Bay Road to end again at SUNY. It's a great course with great views and is especially accommodating to runners and walkers of all abilities. We think this can become a very special event in April each year that will attract lots of people from our community and well beyond." Check-in begins at 8AM and the race begins at 10:00 am with awards and entertainment to follow.

For more information or to register on line or by mail, go to www.glensfallsrotary.org or active.com. Applications may be dropped off at the Glens Falls YMCA on 600 Glen Street or the downtown LARAC office at 7 Lapham Place. The entry fee for the race is $20.00. The club is also seeking individual and corporate sponsors to participate in the event.