Key Points: 

• Community Options has held the Cupid’s Chase 5k races across the nation for 17 years.
• Community Options supports people with disabilities by helping them have a “meaningful day.”
• All proceeds from the Liverpool race will funnel back into the Syracuse community.
• Cupid’s Chase doubles as a match-making race.

Liverpool, N.Y. (NCC News) — Cupid’s Chase 5k brought runners from across the country together to raise money and awareness to support people with disabilities. Across 12 different states, 11,000 people competed in 48 races to support Community Options.

Local Impact

190 Central New Yorkers met in Onondaga Lake Park for the 3.1 mile run in brisk 20-degree weather. The proceeds from sign-up fees for all CNY runners will stay in the Syracuse community, according to Community Options Regional State Director Zachary Petrie. 

“Every city that’s hosting the race, all the money that they raised in each city goes specifically to that city,” Petrie said. “…Every cent is going right back to Syracuse.”

Petrie said that despite the snowiest conditions for the race in a few years, they had a good turnout. 

Everyone that finished the 5k received a Cupid’s Chase Medal. The three overall top finishers for male and female earned a trophy and the first place finisher for each age group got an age-group winners medal. 

Results from the 2025 Liverpool Cupid’s Chase 5k can be found here.

What is Community Options?

Community Options works to support people with disabilities by helping them have what Petrie calls a “meaningful day”. 

“The meaningful part of the day is going to look a little different for everybody,” Petrie said. “What we try to do is — we work with those individuals to see what, what they like to do, what they want to do and provide services for them to be able to do it.”

Support for each person looks different. Community Options offers residential services, day programs, social enterprises that employ individuals with disabilities, high school transition programs, and specialized programs for respite and medically fragile adults. 

The races’ mission resonates with Syracuse University student and counselor-in-training Trinity Grimord. 

“This is just something really important to me and all my friends…I’m really happy that we get to do something, to help others outside of what we already do,” Grimord said. 

Grimord noted the race being nationwide as a reason she got involved.

“Everyone else in different states and areas get to do the same race, so I think it’s really important that everyone else joins in,” Grimord said. 

Petrie describes the event as big for awareness. 

“We want to let Syracuse know who we are, who Community Options is, what we do and how we can help you guys. There’s a lot of people out there looking for help, always. I think some of the times that people are looking for that help, they just get a little nervous to ask the question, and we’re here for any questions you guys have,” Petrie said.

Match-making Race

Cupid is in the name for a reason. The race also doubles as a match-maker. 

During registration, racers chose a white shirt that says “Available” or a red shirt that says “Unavailable.” Organizers say that mingling is encouraged, and have seen people exchange contacts. 

“We’ve had a couple people mention adding an ‘It’s complicated’ shirt. Maybe make a pink shirt or a black shirt, for future races,” Petrie said. 

Community Options has already started planning the 2026 edition of the Cupid’s Chase 5k, which will be held on Valentine’s Day at Onondaga Lake Park.