July 17-18, 2020 – Silver Creek NY
Laurel Memorial Run & Walk going virtual this year
The global pandemic is changing the way we’ll conduct this year’s events, but it won’t stop the 24th annual Laurel Memorial Run/Walk from taking place.
The Laurel Memorial Run and Walk are held the third weekend in July each year. The activities usually include walking and running events in Silver Creek, NY, but those have been canceled this year because of the virus. Instead, we are going to create a Virtual Run and Walk that people can accomplish on their own. Details and registration information will be announced soon.
The other traditional event of the Laurel Run/Walk weekend has been a 30-mile relay run from Jamestown to Dunkirk. We still want to hold that event this year and have sought guidance from law enforcement agencies and the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services on how we can safely conduct the relay run. That event is scheduled for Friday, July 17. We will share details once we have worked out the logistics.
Unfortunately, because of restrictions against large gatherings of people, we probably will not be able to hold the relay run kickoff breakfast nor the victory celebration in Dunkirk.
Wayne and Elaine Hotelling created Laurel Run in 1997 in honor of their daughter Laurel, who had Down syndrome and had a job at The Resource Center for more than 30 years. The Laurel Memorial Run/Walk is a celebration of people with disabilities.
While it’s unfortunate we won’t be able to conduct the usual Silver Creek events, we’re excited about the opportunities that holding a Virtual Run and Walk will present. This will enable people all over the country (and the world) to show support for those with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities, by creating their own personal Run or Walk. And Jaylah Cossin of Silver Creek, who has participated in the Laurel Memorial Run/Walk for several years, came up with a great slogan for this year’s virtual event:
“Together we can keep the distance, to go the distance.”
Questions? Phone (716) 661-4735 or email steve.waterson@resourcecenter.org.
