Rochester River Run/Walk 5K set for April 22

Individuals and teams are invited to participate in the 11th annual fundraiser Friends of Strong Rochester River Run/Walk 5K, Sunday, April 22, at the Roundhouse Shelter at Genesee Valley Park. The race will begin at 10 a.m.

Local organ transplant recipients, members of donor families, physicians and staff will take part in a brief ceremony recognizing the sacrifices and challenges donors, recipients and donor families have made and confront every day. The ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. at the Riverbend Shelter, adjacent to the Roundhouse Shelter.

Also at the ceremony, Monroe County Legislator Josh Bauroth (District 24) will present a proclamation designating April 22, as Organ Donation Day in Monroe County. The proclamation is scheduled to be made in the Legislature at 6 p.m. April 17. Celebrants will also mark April as Donate Life month.

As more patients receive organ transplants each year at Strong Memorial Hospital, including heart, liver pancreas and kidney transplant – many need assistance as they await operations and after transplant. Former patients also return to Rochester for follow-up medical care, swelling the ranks of individuals in need of help. All money raised through the Rochester River Run/Walk goes to support transplant patients and families. In 2011, donations nearly tripled from the previous year to more than $12,000, bringing the overall total to approximately $64,000 since the event began in 2002.

Transplant Administrator and Rochester River Run Planning Committee member Nancy Metzler said, “Donor families and recipients face challenges long after transplant and it’s important to help them as much as possible. The proceeds from the Rochester River Run help us provide a little extra assistance, which often makes a big difference.”

The fee to walk or run is $25 per person and includes a long-sleeved T-shirt for the first 300 registrants. Registration deadline is noon, Friday, April 20. Registration is available after April 20 – the cost then increases to $30 per person and may include a T-shirt if supplies are available. Pre-registration forms are available online at signmeup.com (click on Rochester River Run). Race packets are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Medved Running and Walking Outfitters, 3400 Monroe Ave. Registration forms are also available at Friends of Strong. On the day of the event, registration will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Roundhouse Shelter.

Race prizes for top runners and fundraisers will include restaurant gift certificates and a pair of round trip tickets on United Airlines. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 12, 13, 19, and 20, in the lobby of Strong Memorial Hospital, across from the gift shop and at the race location on the day of the event. Tickets are $2 each, three for $5, seven for $10, or 15 for $20. All raffle and race prizes will be awarded immediately after the event.

The Rochester River Run/Walk 5K course is certified to be accurate by USATF #NY10104KL and computerized racing results will be available.

For more information or to register, call Friends of Strong at (585) 275-2420.