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Date: 2/22/2022
AMHERST – While February is the home stretch of the winter season, Amherst Recreation is promoting a chance for community members to do something outdoors, and help towards a good cause, in Flakey’s Fun Run.
In attempting to develop new activities for the annual WinterFest celebration in town, Amherst Recreation is taking registrations to participate in the fun run to raise money to send children to summer camps and other recreational activities available in the warmer weather. Flakey is the mascot of the annual WinterFest celebration in Amherst.
Amherst Recreation Operations Manager Marion Jordan said the idea for the fun run came from wanting an activity the community could participate in that was promoting health, a culture of giving, and community involvement.
“February is kind of a dark month and to have something to look forward to and get involved in and feel good about getting exercise is awesome,” Jordan said.
Participants in the fun run will have from Feb. 26 to 28 to participate in an outdoor activity such as running, walking, snowshoeing, skiing, or for the thrill seekers swimming, and log their miles collected in that time span. Once you have your miles logged you can tally that to a pledge that can be paid cash or check and mailed to the Amherst Recreation business office.
“We use it (money raised) for our scholarship fund which can be used for youth activities,” Jordan said. “We put that towards sponsoring kids to go to camp and even expanding that to swim lessons or other things we offer to kids in the community. That way they don’t have to pay.”
In her first year organizing this exact event, Jordan is asking people to decide and pledge what they can and that the event is about getting people outside and active.
“Some people are like, ‘I’m not much of a runner’ so I will do $10 a mile because I can do two miles, so it’s really flexible and people can choose according to what they like to do,” Jordan said. “Some people are going to swim, some are going to ski, whatever. Anything is helpful.”
Registered participants can sign up on the Flakey’s Fun Run page on amherstma.gov. After tallying your pledge, you can send cash or check via mail to the Amherst Recreation business office.