Laurel Memorial Run/Walk

The Laurel Memorial Run/Walk - Celebrating people with Down syndrome & other developmental disabilities!

The Laurel Memorial Run/Walk takes place the third weekend in July each year. This two-day event offers several ways to participate:

Friday, July 17 - Jamestown-to-Dunkirk relay run (free, but participants are encouraged to raise donations)

Saturday, July 18 (Silver Creek, NY) - 8K Run, 5K Run, 5K Awareness Walk, 1K Awareness Fun Walk, Children's Runs, Laurel's Legacy Lap

Day One consists of a 31-mile relay run, as well as "The Laurel-thon" for people who want to cover the entire relay route themselves. Day Two features an 8K Run, 5K Run, 5K Disability Awareness Walk, 1K Awareness Walk, and Children's Runs in Silver Creek, NY. We also offer paid and free virtual options for those unable to join us for the in-person events. Proceeds from the Laurel Memorial Run/Walk go to Filling the Gap, Inc., to support services for people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities at The Resource Center. Money raised through Laurel Run are directed to two funds:

The Resource Center Laurel Run Fund supports employment opportunities for people with disabilities, plus advocacy & awareness initiatives.

The Resource Center Dr. John Vona Smile Fund supports the delivery of dental services to people with disabilities.

Click here to make a donation to support people with disabilities through the Laurel Run Fund or the Dr. John Vona Smile Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

LAUREL MEMORIAL RUN/WALK EVENT DETAILS
FRIDAY, JULY 17
The first day is the traditional Jamestown-to-Dunkirk Laurel Memorial Relay Run. We will gather at The Resource Center, 75 Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown, at 8:00 a.m. for the kickoff ceremony. At 8:30, representatives from The Resource Center, area schools and other organizations will take turns running legs of the relay. The relay run will end at The Resource Center's location at 186 Lake Shore Drive West in Dunkirk. Relay runners will receive a Laurel Run/Walk T-shirt, so all relay participants are encouraged to register online so they can sign the waiver and we can get their correct shirt size.

8:00 a.m. - Opening ceremonies at The Resource Center, 75 Jones & Gifford Avenue, Jamestown, NY, 14701
8:30 a.m. - Laurel Memorial Relay Run begins
9:00 a.m. - Jamestown version of Laurel's Legacy Lap (for anyone with a disability), McCrea Point Park, Jones & Gifford Avenue, Jamestown
12:30-2:00 - Victory celebration at The Resource Center, 186 Lake Shore Drive West, Dunkirk, NY, 14048
1:15 - Last set of relay runners arrives

SATURDAY, JULY 18 - Silver Creek, NY
Events will take place in the village square. Parking is available in the Rite Aid lot across the street, but please do not park directly in front of the store so those parking spaces can remain available for Rite Aid customers.

7:00 a.m. - Participant check-in and late registration begin; Basket Raffle opens
8:30 a.m. - 5K Run, 5K Walk and 1K Walk begin (5K course will have two water stations)
9:00 a.m. - 8K Run begins (8K Run will have four water stations)
10:00 a.m. - Children's Fun Runs (ages 7 and younger)
10:15 a.m. - Laurel's Legacy Lap (for anyone with a disability)
10:30 a.m. - Awards Ceremony and Basket Raffle winners announced

Everyone who pays the registration fee will receive a Laurel Memorial Run/Walk shirt and a commemorative medal. (TIP - When registering online, there is a processing fee per registration transaction. So, you can save money by registering several people at one time, rather than registering individually.) People are encouraged to create a personal fund-raising page to collect donations from family and friends. If you do that and you raise $50 or more, we will waive the registration fee and you will receive your shirt and medal for free.

PRIZES
For the 8K Run, cash prizes ($100 for first place, $75 for second, $50 for third) will be awarded to the top three overall male and female finishers. For the 8K Run and 5K Run/Walk, medals will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group. Everyone who crosses the finish line will receive a medal made by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

We also will have team awards for both the 8K & 5K. Team times will be based on the combined times of each team's first four finishers.

VIRTUAL EVENTS
If you can't make it to the actual Laurel Run/Walk events, you can sign up to do a virtual run, walk or other activity. This is a great way to be with us in spirit and show your support for people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Registration for the 8K Run, 5K Walk, 1K Walk, and Paid Virtual event is $25 for adults and $20 for children (age 17 and younger). For those who want to tackle both the 5K Run and the 8K Run, registration is $35 for adults and $30 for children 17 and younger. Online registration will close at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 16. You can register in person the day of the event. Registration fees will increase $5 Friday, July 17.

Register by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, to ensure you'll receive your T-shirt at the Laurel Run/Walk events. (People who register after that will still receive a shirt, but it may not be ready by Laurel Run/Walk weekend. If not, you will have the option of picking up your shirt or paying a $10 domestic shipping fee.)  

BACKGROUND
The Laurel Memorial Run/Walk was created by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling in honor of their oldest daughter, Laurel, who had Down syndrome. For the inaugural event in 1997, Wayne set out to run more than 400 miles across New York State to spread the message that people with disabilities can accomplish great things, if they're given the chance to prove themselves. After covering about 100 miles in the first five days, Wayne developed a leg injury that sidelined him. After he recovered, Wayne borrowed a bicycle and picked up where he left off. When Wayne encountered steep inclines, he would stop riding and Elaine would walk up the hills to officially log the distance. People across the state became inspired by Wayne and Elaine's determination. So the Hotellings decided to turn Laurel Run into an annual event in their hometown of Silver Creek, NY.

For many years Laurel was the Grand Marshal of the event. Sadly, Laurel passed away in 2017 at the age of 54. But her spirit lives on in the event that bears her name. The Laurel Memorial Run/Walk is organized each year by the Hotellings; The Resource Center, which supports people with disabilities in Western New York State; Filling the Gap, Inc., which supports The Resource Center; and a dedicated group of volunteers. Some of the money raised through the event enhances employment and work training opportunities for adults with disabilities. Laurel herself had a job at The Resource Center for more than 30 years, and she was proud of her paycheck.

Dr. John Vona was a dentist in Northern Chautauqua County for more than six decades. He spent the last 20 years of his career at TRC Community Health Center, working out of The Resource Center's building on Lake Shore Drive in Dunkirk. Dr. Vona was Laurel's dentist, and he took extra time when treating patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities in order to put them at ease and make sure he addressed their oral hygiene issues. Following his death in 2024, his children spearheaded the creation of the Dr. John Vona Smile Fund to carry on his compassionate spirit and continue his legacy of helping others.

If you're unable to join us, please consider making a donation to the Laurel Run Fund or the Dr. John Vona Smile Fund in order to show your support for people with disabilities.

ONE MORE THING ...
The Resource Center is a membership organization, and membership is open to anyone age 18 or older who believes in our mission of improving the lives of people with disabilities. One of The Resource Center's primary functions is to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities and their families. The more members The Resource Center has, the stronger our voice becomes when we advocate. As adults 18 and older complete the online registration process, they will have the option to become a member of The Resource Center. There are two types of membership: You can become an Associate Member for free, or you can pay $10 to become an Annual Member or $100 to become a Lifetime Member. Annual Members and Lifetime Members receive a Membership Card that entitles them to disc...