Friday, April 25, 2014

‘Friends’ to host annual hunger run May 3


          Friends of Night People will host its annual Putting Hunger on the Run 5K race at 9 a.m., May 3 on the West Side.
         The USA Track & Field-sanctioned run or walk will start at Niagara and Vermont streets, and loop around to Prospect Avenue between Porter Avenue and Connecticut Street. Past races have brought in more than 250 runners.
According to Nicole Gawel, the development assistant at Friends of Night People, the first race 11 years ago had only 30 participants.  This year, the race has been moved from April to May in hopes of warmer weatherand more runners.
Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each class in age and gender as well as the overall winner. Awards also will go to the person who brings the oldest race shirt, the most race shirts or the race shirt from the furthest place.
Race packets can be picked up between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on  May 1 at D’Youville College, 320 Porter Ave. New this year, a chicken dinner provided by Chiavetta’s Chicken BBQ will be served at the packet pick up for $10. Proceeds from the dinner also will benefit Friends of Night People.
Registration on race day will start at 7:30 a.m. at D’Youville College. The general entry fee is $20 or $15 for D’Youville students and faculty.
Friends of Night People provides meals, clothing and medical care to those in need. In 2012, the organization served 83,052 meals. By Shana Campbell and Andrew Manzella