Get Ready to Race: Zoe’s Race Celebrates its 10th Anniversary this Weekend
BURLINGTON, VT—This weekend, Zoe’s Race will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Sunday, August 26, at Oakledge Park in Burlington. To mark the occasion, the family-friendly event offers a new option—a 10K run in addition to the usual 1K fun run and 5K run/walk.
Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, registration for the 1K Fun Run is FREE for children 17 and younger. Additional sponsors include Bio-Medic, Gravel & Shea Attorneys at Law, Karen Allen Law, National Seating and Mobility, and the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. As in past years, the Hokum Brothers will entertain and motivate runners at the start of each race and throughout the morning. About 200 runners are expected to participate this year.
To date, the event has raised more than $200,000 with support from numerous local businesses and individuals and has completed 19 home accessibility projects. Whether the modifications involve remodeling a bathroom, adding an entrance ramp, or enlarging doorways, the improvements have a lasting impact in the daily lives of young Howard Center clients and their families. One mother, a recent recipient of an accessibility modification says, “It's about much more than updating a bathroom that is not safe and functional. It's about providing hope and a better quality of life for those who truly need it.”
The idea for the race was sparked in 2009, when Erika Nestor began a remodeling project to make her home accessible for her daughter Zoe. Zoe, who is now 15 years old, is in a wheelchair as a result of a near drowning accident when she was 18 months old. Erika was thankful that she was able to make her home accessible, but worried about other families that may not be so fortunate. She teamed up with Howard Center and Zoe’s Race was born.
In addition to the runners, walkers, and sponsors who contribute to the event, numerous local businesses provide services and materials for the projects. Since its inception, architect Chris Brown of brown + davis design and contractor Rob Peeters of Second Gen Builders, LLC have made substantial contributions of time and talent.
Online registration is closed, but runners can register on-site the morning of the event from 7:30-8:15 a.m. The 1K fun run starts at 8:30 a.m., the 5K and 10K start at 9:00 a.m. All races begin and end at
Oakledge Park.
For more information, visit www.howardcenter.org or www.zoesrace.org.
Howard Center helps 16,000 people in over 60 locations and six counties each year with mental health, substance use, and developmental services. Howard Center’s 24/7/365 mobile crisis service, First Call for Chittenden County is available to meet the needs of Chittenden County children, adults, and families in crisis at 802-488-7777. Howard Center is a funded agency of the United Way of Northwest Vermont. www.howardenter.org. Help is here.
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