SOUTHWICK – With the first race of the Healthy Kids Running Series Southwick taking place on Sunday, founder and Tolland resident Andi DeSanto is still looking for volunteers to help with race operations.
Currently, 11 volunteers have stepped forward to help however, organizers would like to have between 15 to 20. According to DeSanto, she is also seeking volunteers who can help for the entire five weeks of races. Some parents have offered their assistance but they’re limited on how much they can help.
“But, they want to watch their kids,” said DeSanto.
The specific positions that are needed from volunteers include group leader, course marshal, results keeper, starter, as well as someone to help set up and take down the course, and work the registration table.
Andi DeSanto, the founder of Healthy Kids Running Series in Southwick, is still looking for more volunteers to help during the races. (WNG File Photo)
The hope from DeSanto is to gain some volunteers that may not have a direct connection to a child that is running, therefore they would be able to consistently help with the races every weekend. A former runner herself, DeSanto noted that she’s also reached out to the liaison for the National Honors Society at the Southwick Regional School to see if any of the students would like to volunteer.
Founded by Pattison Sports Group in Pennsylvania in 2009, the Healthy Kids Running Series is a nationwide program that allows children ages two-years-old to 14-years-old to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle. The Healthy Kids Running Series is a five-week program in the spring and fall that takes place every Sunday for two hours.
In an effort to bring the running series to the Southwick area, DeSanto signed up to be a Community Coordinator for the Healthy Kids Running Series and would be the lead organizer for the event. DeSanto attended a conference in January in Pennsylvania where she met with other Community Coordinator’s to learn from them on how to run the event.
The running series consists of a 50-yard dash, 75-yard dash, quarter-mile run, half-mile run, and one-mile run. Kids are able to compete each week and can earn points based on what place they come in. At the end of the five weeks, the top boy and the top girl with the most points in their age division are given a trophy.
Following the first race that begins on Sunday April 28, the remaining four races will be May 5, May 12, May 19, and May 26. The races will be from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Powder Mill School near the high school track. When speaking to the Westfield News in March, DeSanto indicated there were 61 kids signed up to run the Healthy Kids Running Series in Southwick. The deadline to register was on April 7.
If anyone has interest in volunteering for the Healthy Running Series in Southwick, contact DeSanto at 860-214-0842 or email her at [email protected].
