By Jasmine Willis
COHOCTON — The family-fun event that honors cancer survivors is making a change in the world one footprint at a time.
The Sixth Annual Footin’ It For Family will be held on May 15. Registration is due April 27 if you would like an event T-shirt to wear on the walk/run. The 5K walk/run starts at 10 a.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m.
The event is made up of family and friends who have been impacted by cancer in some way. It started out as a race in Elmira for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in 2012. The family took that concept and turned it into Footin’ It For Family in 2016. For five years before that they did the race in Elmira, and raised $15,500 to fight cancer.
Donna Fox is part of the committee made up of family and friends. Fox has been impressed with the turnout and support of this event for years.
The 5K walk/run is a challenge with hills and curves that starts and ends at the Drum Farm. Gene and Pat Drum have been proud supports of this cause and hosted a lunch at their place.
Fox reached out to this local reporter to discuss the upcoming event. She said the event has raised about $70,000 total for the Ann and Carl Myers Cancer Center. Last year was the best year so far with 200 participants and $25,000 raised. Fox said she hopes to continue to grow the event and raise more money for the cancer center.
“We started out with 82 people in the first year. Last year we did it with an impressive 200 participants and raised $25,000 for the Ann and Carl Myers Cancer Center. We lost a few friends and family last year to cancer and Covid-19,” she said. “We still offer the tributes and sponsorships for the event. People can have a sign of memorial for someone they lost or a tribute to cancer survivors along the trail. We have had a lot of cancer survivors be part of this race.”
Fox said there are signs of encouragement along the trail as well to keep everyone motivated.
“I think it is awesome that this event has gone on so long. When we started out doing the race for my sister, we had such a great turnout. We all knew we wanted to do something here so the funds would all be donated locally. Everyone you know has been impacted by cancer in some way. That cancer center has been amazing. They are always doing something up there to advance the care,” she said.
Fox said the family lost a really young lady last year to cancer. People have been coming out to support someone they lost. It has grown into a race for a cure.
“We had been close to canceling it the first year of Covid-19. We decided to keep it going, and had a nice turnout that year. We had a limited run so people could take their time. We had to move it up to August that year,” she said. “This has continued to be a huge success for us and the cancer center. We have grown in the number of survivors who want to get involved. We always try to have something for them. We usually do a flower to recognize all of our survivors.”
This is a true family event with multiple children participating every year. Fox said there will be parents pushing strollers and young children racing to the finish line.
Last year the committee had several new businesses join in on this cause. There is now a photobooth available for family photos. Those who have placed a tribute to a loved one often get a photo by the sign.
Fox said people have come from all over to take part in this race. It has touched so many lives over the years.
“It truly is a family event. Everyone on the committee is family. We have multiple families come to take part in the race. It isn’t an official race, so everyone is allowed to take their time. There is nothing else like this,” she said.
Anyone who wishes to pay tribute or sponsor the event has up to a couple weeks before the race to register for a sign. If you are interested in the 5K run/walk you can get tickets from Cohocton Public Library or contact any committee member. There will also be a quilt raffle and basket raffle on the day.
Visit the website at https://footinitforfamily.com/home for more information and tickets.
You will meet at the Drum Farm located at 11219 Dutch Hill Rd. Cohocton. You can contact the following for race information Randy Hamilton (585-315-1872), Jennifer Smyder (585-738-3964) and Donna Fox (585-447-0969).
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