Find a Cure for the Winter Weather Blues

Root for your favorite local team in a basketball benefit. The 3rd annual Battle of the Beaks Games will take place Tuesday, Jan. 26, at St. John Fisher and Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Nazareth College. Join in on the biggest college basketball competition in the region to help the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units of the hospital. The games start at 6 p.m. and pit the Nazareth Golden Flyers against their rivals, the St. John Fisher Cardinals. Proceeds from admission, T-shirts, raffles and money from concession sales will also go toward the cause. For more information call Mike Fahy at (585) 389-2838.

Satiate a sweets craving with a smile cookie. Give yourself a reason to smile and a tasty treat by stopping at one of the 29 area Tim Hortons stores for a $1 smile cookie from Wednesday, Feb. 3, until supplies run out. Funds raised are donated to Golisano Chidlren’s Hospital, our region’s only children’s hospital. This annual promotion has raised more than $28,400 over the years to help sick and injured children get the best care possible. For more information, please call (585) 275-5948.

Emit endorphins by exercising for kids. Looking for another reason to get to the gym? Spin for kids at this sixth annual Cycle for Hope event on Saturday, Feb. 6, which will benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital and Camp Good Days. The six-hour marathon will take place simultaneously as folks pedal the day away on stationary cycles from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various gyms and health clubs across Rochester. To see what facilities are participating or to sign up, visit www.cycle4hope.org or call (585) 273-5948.

Find family fun in February. This short, kid-friendly Winter Walk for Strong Kids to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital offers a perfect way to get some fresh air and entertain the kids. The walk will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Nazareth College with kids' indoor and outdoor activities continuing until 1 p.m. Registration is free to all participants who raise $10 or more in pledges. For more information call Mike Fahy at (585) 389-2838.

Attend a friendly evening gathering. 2008 Miracle Kid Mason Mitchell’s family and friends with host their third annual Keeping Hope Strong fundraiser to support Golisano Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Surgery Division. This year’s event begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at J.B. Quimby’s and will include a 50/50 raffle, a live auction at 7 p.m. and live entertainment from John Akers. For more information, call Despina Mitchell at (585) 703-6088 or Scott Mitchell at (585) 703-6088.

Get breakfast on the house. The much-anticipated fifth annual National Pancake Day, hosted by IHOP to benefit children’s hospitals across the country, will take place 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at IHOP restaurants. Get three pancakes free from the North Goodman or Jefferson Road IHOP restaurants in exchange for making a donation to Golisano Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.