Independent Health, Canisius to host Shoes/Shelter 5K Run

Independent Health and Canisius College will present the 10th annual Shoes for the Shelter 5K Run/Walk at noon on Sunday, April 6 at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.

Registration for the USATF sanctioned event will take place at the Canisius College Patrick Lee Center, located next to the Koessler Athletic Center at the corner of Main and Delavan, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

The Shoes for the Shelter 5K Run will be the third race in the Triple Crown Series. The Chilly Challenge and Bengal 5K compose the first two legs of the series. Runners must participate in all three races to be eligible for the Triple Crown Series. The winners of the series will be announced after the Shoes for the Shelter 5K Run.

The entry fee for adults is $18 preregistration and $20 on the day of the race, while the entry fee for children (14 and under), Canisius College students and Independent Health employees is $12 preregistration and $15 on the day of the race. The entry fee for Canisius College faculty and staff is $15 preregistration and $20 on the day of the race.

Before the 5K Run/Walk is the One-Mile Fun Walk. Participants in the Fun Walk can enjoy a stroll around the Forest Lawn Cemetery beginning at 11:30 a.m. and take part in all the postrace festivities at the Patrick Lee Center.

A gift will be given to the first 400 registered participants, and all runners are encouraged to turn in a pair of sneakers or shoes for the St. Vincent de Paul shelter on race day.

For information on preregistration, contact John Maddock in the Canisius College Athletic Department at 888-2977 or e-mail maddock@canisius.edu. Interested participants also can register online on GoGriffs.com by clicking on the Golden Griffin Online Store. Race packets can be picked up on April 4 (3 to 6 p.m.), April 5 (noon to 4 p.m.) and after 9 a.m. on the day of the race.

A runner's mass and runner's stretch will take place starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Patrick Lee Center leading up to the start of the race at 12 noon.

Awards will be given to the first-place male and female finishers overall and for the top three finishers in all age categories. Age categories are as follows: 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 and older. There will also be special awards for the top finishers of Independent Health employees and Canisius College employees, students and alumni.

A postrace party will be held beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the Patrick Lee Center with food and refreshments, while the awards ceremony is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.