Gabby Corbett Make a Friend Be a Friend 5K Run/Walk
The Gabby Corbett Make a Friend Be a Friend 5K Run/Walk will be held Sunday, April 28, 2019 at the Egremont Elementary School, 84 Egremont Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201.
There is also a Kids Fun Run.
To pre-register go to berkshirerunningcenter.com.
Free T shirt if registered by April 1st.
On-line registration closes April 26th at 6 pm.
The race will be timed by the Berkshire Running Center.
The pre-registration entry fee is $22, and on race day, $25. Kids Fun Run $5.
Schedule:
Saturday April 27th
2:00 – 4:00 pm Packet pickup at Egremont Elementary School
Race Day
9:00- 9:45 am Registration
10:00 am 5K Race.
10:30 – 11:00 am Registration for Kids Run ( behind school)
11:00 am Kids Run
Proceeds from the race will benefit Make a Friend Be a Friend which started at the Egremont Elementary School in honor of Gabby Corbett who passed away in 2016 at 11 years old. Make a Friend Be a Friend addresses bullying and supports students with disabilities, both of which were passionate causes for Gabby.
For more information visit the Berkshire Running Center at berkshirerunningcenter.com
“Freezin for a Reason” Season
It’s “Freezin for a Reason” Season.
As the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen, so goes the old timers’ adage. We know that winter has a ways to go- it is still skiing, skating, basketball and now…cold water diving season.
Crazy folks throughout the world jump into frigid waters for all sorts of reasons- traditions, celebrations, rites of passage, supposed health benefits, but it is a particularly American trait to endure this kind of discomfort for charity.
But be careful what you call it. Both “Polar Plunge” and Polar Bear Plunge” have been trademarked by Special Olympics.
Three such events are coming up soon to a body of water near you in the sportingAcause Tri-state area.
The format is pretty much the same for all of them- entrants fundraise in the days and weeks before the event and bring a certain minimum amount to the event to qualify to plunge. Both teams and individuals are encouraged to participate.
On March 2nd, the Winsted Penguin Plunge, billed as the largest grass roots fundraiser for Special Olympics Connecticut, will be held at the Highland Lake Boat Launch in Winsted.
Then on March 30th and 31st, the Pittsfield 2019 Super Plunge and Polar Plunge will be held on Onota Lake at Burbank Park in Pittsfield. Now this event takes winter discomfort to a whole new level. In addition to the conventional plunge on March 31st, especially masochistic enthusiasts, who have raised a minimum of $1,000, have earned the right to plunge once an hour starting on March 30th for 24 consecutive hours. Their 24th and final plunge coincides with the one-timers. Now that’s dedication! This event supports Special Olympics Massachusetts.
On April 7th, the Spring Splash will be held at The Grove on Lakeville Lake in Lakeville, CT. This event supports two popular local causes- the Jane Lloyd Fund and the John Rice Scholarship Fund. I must note that 50% of the entrants for Spring Splash are high school students from area public and private schools. Way to go Kids!
By the way, you don’t have to submerge yourself in frigid waters to participate- go to one or more of these events and watch the fun from high ground. Donations are always appreciated.
By the time the Spring Splash wraps up, who knows, maybe we’ll be golfin!
Til next time.
Willie
Gerald Miller 17th Annual Boys and Girls Club Children First Golf Tournament
The Gerald Miller 17th Annual Boys and Girls Club Children First Golf Tournament will be held Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at the Country Club of Pittsfield, 639 South Main Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
The tournament is an 18 hole, four-person scramble event. Unlike many tournaments where individuals form teams and pay an individual entry fees, the Gerald Miller tournament is business-driven. Local businesses sponsor four-person teams at $1500 per team. Each business also gets signage and mention in the event program. Dinner-only option for $50.
There are additional sponsorship opportunities ranging from $300 to $5,000.
Entry to the tournament is by pre-registration only. Organizers warn that the tournament always fills up, so register early by calling Kristine at (413) 448-8258 ext 10 or email khuggins@bgcberkshires.org. Deadline for registration is August 20th.
Special guest this year- LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis.
The entry fee includes green fees, cart, gift, lunch and refreshments on the course, hole in one contest, awards and dinner.
There is a Pebble Beach Golf Trip raffle, silent auction and putting contest with a $5,000 prize.
The tournament day schedule is as follows:
10:00 am Registration
11:00 am Shotgun start
Lunch on the course
Awards and dinner after play.
For more information about the tournament call Kristine at (413) 448-8258 ext 10.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Boys and Girls Club programs. To learn more, visit bgcberkshires.org.
Midnight Run with the Cops 5K Copstacle Fun Run/Walk
The Midnight Run with the Cops 5K Copstacle Fun Run/Walk will be held Saturday, July 7, 2018 starting at the Berkshire Running Center, McKay Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
This is a fundraising event for Special Olympics MA where participants form teams to compete against other teams to raise money.
The event schedule:
7/06/18 10:00 am Registration Deadline
7/07/18 10:30 pm – 11:45 pm Check in
11:45 pm Run/Walk begins
7/08/18 1:00 am event concludes
8/01/18 9:00 pm Donation Deadline
For more information contact Xtra Mile at (508) 485-0986 ext. 245 or email xtramile@specialolympicsma.org.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Special Olympics MA to celebrate their 50th year and help in their ongoing efforts to provide athletic opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Berkshire County Kids Place 2018 Golf Tournament
The Berkshire County Kids Place 2018 Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, 500 Benedict Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
The entry fee for the four-person scramble format event is $140 per person, which includes green fees, cart, lunch, on-course contests, tournament gift, dinner and a 50-50 raffle ticket. There is a dinner-only option for $35.
On- course contests include longest drive, closest to the pin, and hole in one. Players can buy mulligans and the right (for the guys) to drive from the lady’s tee on one hole- these for an additional charge.
To register email lbaran@kidsplaceonline.org for a mail in registration form. The registration deadline is May 15th.
Tournament day schedule:
10:00 am Registration, Raffle, Mulligans, etc.
11:00 am Shot gun start
Lunch on the Turn
Awards, raffle sales, silent auction and dinner after the tournament.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Berkshire County Kids Place to provide services to children who are victims of physical and/or sexual violence.
To learn more about the tournament again email lbaran@kidsplaceonline.org or call (413) 499-2800 ext 114.
To learn more about the Berkshire County Kids Place visit kidsplaceonline.org.
A special thanks to the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Golf Committee for their past 25 years of support.
Thank you also to the following sponsors for their generosity:
Platinum Sponsor
Raymond James
Golf Sponsors
Greylock Federal Credit Union
Pineridge Construction
MountainOne
Berkshire Yardbirds
Pittsfield Cooperative Bank
Walk MS Berkshires
Walk MS Berkshires will be held Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Taconic High School, 96 Valentine Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
The walking route, which is wheelchair accessible, is approximately 4 miles long. The walk will be held rain or shine.
Dogs and children are welcome- both must be accompanied by an adult.
Register at nationalmssociety.org. Participants can register as either individuals or form teams.
There is no entry fee for the Walk, but participants are asked to fundraise in advance of the event. Organizers estimate the cost of putting on the event to be about $25 per person. The average donation raised is about $250 per person.
Participants can earn a variety of cool merchandise by achieving various levels of fundraising. $100 raised, for example, will earn the participant an event T shirt. Higher fundraising levels yield higher valued merchandise.
Walk day schedule:
Bagels and coffee before the event.
9:00 am Registration
10:00 am Walk begins
Proceeds from Walk MS benefit the National MS Society in their work to fund research to cure MS and to provide services that help people with MS live their best lives.
Walk MS Berkshires hopes to raise $16,500 this year. Last year’s event attracted 62 participants.
Walk MS is the 12th largest fundraising event in the country. Nationally, the organization raises $45 million per year from 400 walk events involving over 300,000 people.
To learn more, visit nationalmssociety.org, email fundraisingsupport@nmss.org or call (855) 372-1331.
Thanks to the Walk MS national sponsors:
Biogen Genentech Novartis
And the Walk MS Berkshires local sponsors:
EMD Serono, USA Ab Vie Berni&Phyl’s Furniture