Video Transcript
Autumn Ryan: Syracuse residents laced up their running shoes for the 17th annual Cupid’s Chase 5k, to raise awareness and money for housing and job opportunities for people with disabilities. The clock was ticking as runners made their way back around at Onondaga Lake Park. Even four-legged friends got in on the action, many runners brought their dogs with them. One runner, Trinity Grimord says everything she is learning as a counselor in training made the run very important for her.
Trinity Grimord: It feels great. Actually. I’m really happy that we get to do something, to help others outside of what we already do.
Autumn Ryan: It was not only the runners making a difference, the team of volunteers helped the event come together. Some roles of the volunteers included helping at the raffle table and checking in runners for the race. One volunteer, Heather Wilsey says she loves knowing that she made a positive impact in other’s lives.
Heather Wilsey: The reaction of both individuals that we support who you’ll see in a little while, you’ll start to see some individuals that live in our residential programs come out to be part of this event. And I’m just seeing everybody get really, really excited about community options is the best part.
Autumn Ryan: All this pounding of feet leads to the finish line and a piece of metal. The top runners for each age group took home trophies and medals. But of course, that is not why they do it. The community’s love for giving back brought them together for this cause.
Zachary Petrie: I appreciate the Syracuse community. You know, these vendors that come out again, it’s freezing today. You know, I would expect a lot of people probably inside, cut up watching a movie or something like that. And to see these guys come out in the community, come out, and support what we do. Again, even for a couple of hours, it’s awesome.
Autumn Ryan: Cupid’s Chase 5K raised around 10,000 in support of their mission. I’m Autumn Ryan for NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Syracuse residents were on the run for a good cause at Onondaga Lake Park for the 17th annual Cupid’s Chase 5K to raise money for people with disabilities at Community Options, Inc on Feb. 8.
Community Options, a national agency with a local chapter that supports individuals with disabilities, organizes this event every year in Syracuse and 48 other cities to raise money to provide housing and employment opportunities.
The race raised around $10,000, which will go directly to Syracuse residents with disabilities at Community Options. Funds will be used for group home repairs, such as new roofing and driveways, and vehicles to drive individuals with disabilities throughout the city.
Zachary Petrie, regional state director at the Syracuse Office for Community Options, says the mission was to get some awareness out there about what Community Options does.
“The individuals that we serve, we want them to have a meaningful day. What we try to do and strive to do is get these individuals out in the community. We support them with employment services, so they are out getting jobs, at day programs,” says Petrie.
The residents are paired with a job coach who helps them find jobs based on their interests.
“So, we have people that work in the food service industry, they work at the JMA wireless dome during the football and basketball season doing concessions. We have people working at retail stores and maintenance jobs. You name it, they’re working these jobs. So, it’s really not defined to one certain thing,” says Petrie.
The impact of Community Options’ work motivated Trinity Grimord to run the 5K.
Grimord says she chose this race because she can help others just by running.
“You should do it because it’s a good cause. It gets your body moving and simply just moving your body helps someone else,” says Grimord. “It feels great, I’m really happy that we get to do something to help others.
A group of volunteers donated their time to ensure the event ran smoothly. Volunteers checked in the runners, oversaw the raffle table and took photos of the event. One of the volunteers, Heather Wilsey, says she enjoys putting a smile on people’s faces.
“The reaction of both individuals that we support who you’ll see in a little while, you’ll start to see some individuals that live in our residential programs come out to be part of this event. And I’m just seeing everybody get really, really excited about community options is the best part,” says Wilsey.
The runners gathered for an award ceremony after the race ended. The fastest runners received trophies and the best runners from each age group got medals.
Given the name of the event – Cupid’s Chase, runners have been known to find love here too. Each runner’s t-shirt color represents their relationship status. Red shirts are unavailable, and white shirts are for singles.
“I am told that we have had relationships and marriages come out of this event when white shirts happen to notice one another and strike up a conversation,” says Wilsey.