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Date: 8/17/2021
HOLYOKE – Two Holyoke organizations are teaming up to host a COVID-19 Freedom Walk and Roll 5K on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Director of Community Engagement for OneHolyoke CDC Nayroby Rosa-Soriano said the idea for the event, which is a collaborative effort with the Homework House, was to provide the community with a way to demonstrate how the pandemic has impacted those in the city. “We initiated this event because we wanted to provide something to the community that really addressed a lot of the experiences that folks have had with COVID[-19],” she said.
Additionally, she said they had received a grant “to support the community in providing services [and] education,” and wanted the event to serve as a way to “celebrate a lot of the work we’ve done in the community with a lot of organizations.”
Starting in June, Rosa-Soriano said they “invited folks into the planning committee” and began “meeting weekly, getting details in place, to get the word out and to provide a nice, safe event.” The committee, she said, consisted of people from the Chamber of Commerce, the library and the school district.
“When we first started planning, it was how about we do a COVID[-19] freedom walk or roll, walking to be free of COVID[-19] and to continue to be safe around it,” she said. Rosa-Soriano said while it was a 5K, it would simply be a walk and stroll for those in wheelchairs, bicyclists and those who wanted to bring a stroller.
“Doing a run is a lot more tedious and would involve a lot more. There’s an entire specific guidelines that you follow and it can get a bit more expensive,” she said. “Because we were trying to do an event that would allow us to do some fundraising for the community, it would not be [conducive.]”
The walk ends at the Holyoke Farmer’s Market on Race Street. The market, Rosa-Soriano said, “is very supportive.” She said, “They have told their vendors this event’s happening, it’s going to bring walkers through the event [and is] another way to collaborate through the city.”
Rosa-Soriano said OneHolyoke CDC would also have a tent at the finish line with a vaccine clinic. “We have a tent at the finale with a vaccine clinic, all three vaccines will be available,” she said. Additionally, she said ValleyBike would have a tent at the event with information about renting bikes.
Rosa-Soriano said the organization has been hosting clinics each month for quite some time, making it easy to schedule second doses and plan ahead. “We have been hosting vaccine clinics every month, so folks vaccinated in July, Aug. 28 would be the second dose,” she said. “We give them the date, but don’t necessarily give them the location, but we do have contact info and will tell them where it is.”
She added they would be hosting some costume contests, the farmers market was hoping to host several food trucks the day of the event, there would be a chance to win prizes, a Holyoke history scavenger hunt along the route and a chance to honor local loved ones who have overcome or passed away due to COVID-19.
Registration for the event is $10 for adults, $15 for couples and free for children under the age of 17. However, Rosa-Soriano emphasized that should people want to participate in the event, but are unable to pay the fee, there is a discount code available on their website that would allow them to take part for free. Those interested in participating can also register the day of the event, starting at 8:30 a.m. She said those interested in supporting someone who is walking, but do not want to participate in the walk can do that as well on the website.
Rosa-Soriano went on to emphasize the collaboration between the two organizations and said, “We’re not anything without our partners and the community coming together to do things like this.”
Those needing more information, including the walk route, and/or pre-register for the event can do so online at https://go.rallyup.com/participar5k2021.