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Date: 7/25/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, Sheriff’s Shuffle Coordinator Davis Snow and Youth Leadership Academy Camp Director Sal Demaio gathered at Brightwood Elementary School in Springfield to announce this year’s Sheriff’s Shuffle 5K/Walk.
The Hampden County Sheriff’s Shuffle 5K/Walk is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke.
Race day registration will begin at 8 a.m. and will take place inside Holyoke Elks Lodge, 250 Whitney Ave.
Both the run and walk will start at 10:30 a.m.
Registration for the race and 1.5-mile walk is open through the day of the event.
It will cost $35 if you register ahead or $40 the day of the race.
Every registered participant will get an official Sheriff’s Shuffle shirt.
You can register or donate at tinyurl.com/7dhvc9ap.
Refreshments, food, awards, raffles and live entertainment will be provided immediately after the run.
Snow said, “We want everybody to know that all are welcome whether you’re a runner or a walker or you’re just interested in getting involved. The Sheriff’s Shuffle has a history of bringing support and awareness to a variety of different organizations in the community that the Sheriff’s Department deems worthy in bringing recognition and support to.”
All the proceeds from this year’s Sheriff’s Shuffle will benefit the Youth Leadership Academy for next summer.
Each year the Sherriff’s Shuffle benefits a different organization with the money in 2022 going to the YWCA of Western Massachusetts to help victims of domestic violence.
The Youth Leadership Academy is in its fifth year and is a free camp offered by Cocchi’s office to give young people with incarcerated parents or who live in economically challenged areas of Western Massachusetts a chance to experience a summer of fun, adventure and learning.
Cocchi added, “It was put together simply to give kids an opportunity to get in the summertime months on some field trips to Lupa Zoo, Six Flags, Look Park whatever we can do to help them have a summer like most other kids enjoy.”
The camp runs from late June to early August and is hosted at Brightwood Elementary School in Springfield.
In addition to field trips around Western Massachusetts, children also take part in daily activities like sports or arts and crafts with free breakfast and lunch included.
Demaio said, “Our biggest thing is to make sure the kids who are here have nothing but a smile on their face. We appreciate the community support. We are up to 155 kids, we literally had to turn kids away because the financial situation as we are built for so many kids. It’s a great camp, the kids don’t even want to get picked up at 5 p.m., they want to stay.”
The camp can run because of donations so the money raised will directly benefit the camp.
When the summer camp first began in 2019 it was serving around 40 young people, but that number has risen to more than 150 children per week between the ages of 7 and 12.
Cocchi said, “This camp is going to continue to grow. It is our job at the Sheriff’s Office to provide our community with resources and opportunity and these children absolutely adore the staff and we adore them.”