Race in the Park Ready to Go This Saturday
By Robin Vinci at May 5, 2024 | 7:00 am | Print
All week long pink ribbons have been found across New Britain adorning street poles, trees, signs and buildings. It is in celebration of Saturday’s Race in the Park for breast cancer research.
The Connecticut Breast Health Initiative took over the event 8 years ago in order to keep funds raised in the state. It was 18 years ago the Komen Foundation ran the race for 10 years.
“After 10 years the steering committee decided we wanted all our money to stay in Connecticut, so we changed our name and changed our focus to research in Connecticut and keeping the money here,” said Joyce Bray, President of the CT Breast Health Initiative. “We continued in the same venue doing the same race, but with a new name and a new mission.”
So far, in over 18 years, about $10 million has been raised from the event. Over $1.5 million has been donated to research in the state.
“People often think of us a race and having a great time one day of the year, but really the work is finding the right researchers to donate to and to help them get started on some of their really important work,” said Bray. “They feel like it is capacity building grants that we give them so they can prove to federal funders they can do great work. We can’t give millions but we can thousands of them as seed money.”
Between 5,000-10,000 people come and fill Walnut Hill Park on race day each year. This year Governor Dannel Malloy and Lt Governor Nancy Wyman are the co-chairs for the event.
“People think it’s only a race and that you have to be a runner,” said Bray. “There are seven events including competitive runs and walks. Four are for children, b ut it isalso a day of celebration with music by Fountainhead and food.”
Registration is available up to 10 minutes before a race.
Kids can take part in a Kid Expo this year.
Kids Expo: Activities for kids up to 12 years old, including the list, below:
- Home Depot’s Build in the Park: Children will have an opportunity to build and take home a wooden project.
- Parachutes
- Relary Races
- Nerf Golf and Tennis
- Hula Hooping
- Basketball
- Bubble Blowing
- Face Painting
- and More!
Other events include:
Shop in the Park: Don’t miss the 2011 CT RACE IN THE PARK pink ribbon merchandise available for purchase in the Merchandise Tent.
Pink Ribbon Auction: Visit the Silent Auction and Raffle tent to bid on great items and to purchase raffle tickets at 2 for $1. Silent Auction will close at 12 noon and raffle winners will be announced at the finish line during the 1 Mile and 4K Walks. Items can be claimed as soon as winners are announced. Winners need not be present to win.
Picnic in the Park: Additional food will be available for purchase from various local food vendors beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tentatively the following vendors/restaurants will be participating:
- East Side Restaurant – Potato Pancakes
- Italian Fraternal Association – Sausage and Pepper Grinders
- Chet’s Italian Ice
- Ben Vinci – Fried Dough and Soup
- Capitol Lunch – Hot Dogs
- Palumbo Kettle Korn
- Avery’s Beverages – Soda
- NoName Tortilla – Burritos
The schedule of events is as follows:
6:30 a.m. | Registration, bib number, T-shirt pickup
8:00 a.m. | Male 5K RUN
8:00 a.m. | Shop in the Park/Auction Tents Open
8:45 a.m. | Kids’ Challenge 1 Mile Run
8:50 a.m. | Kids’ Challenge Fun Run
9:00 a.m. | Picnic in the Park (food for sale)
9:00 a.m. | Warm-up by Niantic Jazzercise Fitness
9:15 a.m. | Female 5K RUN sponsored by Niantic Jazzercise
9:15 a.m. |Kid’s Expo: Activities for children 0-12, including Home Depot’s Build in the Park (build and take home a wooden project)
9:30 a.m. | Sponsor Tent Opens
10:15 a.m. | 1 Mile Walk & 4K Walk
11:00 a.m. | Survivor Brunch and Celebration
