Don’t let the zombies fool you; the organizers of the Hallowrun for Hunger don’t want to eat your brains.
But they do want to feed people.
The 5K run, now in its second year, aims to raise money for the Food Bank of Central New York. Founder Liz Westfall hopes to raise enough this year to fund 20,000 meals.
“According to the US Department of Agriculture, one in five children in this country live in ‘food insecure’ households,” said Westfall, a junior at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. “This means they can’t always count on having food when they are hungry. Many people think that supplemental nutrition assistance program [SNAP] benefits are enough, but many families run out before the end of the month.”
In order to help those families, the Food Bank of Central New York distributes additional meals, a total of 16 million pounds of food in 2013. Westfall wants to help add to that total with her zombie-themed run, to be held Oct. 5 at Oneida Shores. It’s a cause to which Westfall said she’s always been drawn.
“For several years, my friends and I have organized a food drive called Halloween for Hunger and collected food instead of candy on Halloween,” she said. “It’s really fun and the Food Bank of CNY is so grateful, we just wanted to do more. Then in April of 2013, I was asked to write down my interests and goals for a banquet, and I wrote that I loved to run and wanted to collect $5,000 for the Food Bank of CNY by the time I graduate. I came up with a plan: a 5K for $5K, and the Hallowrun for Hunger was born.”
Last year’s event, which featured made-up student zombies who chased costumed runners around the course, attracted 270 participants and raised enough to fund 15,000 meals at the Food Bank. The event was able to raise so much because, unlike other charity races, all of the funds raised went to the nonprofit.
“I read an article about how some 5Ks only give a few dollars of the runner registration money to the charity, so we decided to make our 5K different and give all of the money to the charity,” Westfall said. “That definitely added to the challenge because it meant we had to find enough sponsors to cover the race costs.”
Westfall and her team were successful in that endeavor, garnering enough sponsorships to pull off the event. This year is no different; in addition to the support of Eagle Newspapers, the run is sponsored by Beak & Skiff, Tops Friendly Markets, MVP Health Care, Cindy’s Gift Solutions, Topaz Publications, Burdick Ford, Scalfone Law, Spybaby Prom & Bridal, Mercedes Salon & Spa, and Frightmare Farms.
Last year’s race also provided some important lessons about starting and running a nonprofit event. Westfall said organizers also figured out that, to improve parking capacity, the run will start at the Aspen Shelter instead of the Arrowhead Lodge, and more student “zombies” will be on hand to chase runners. But those weren’t the only lessons.
“The most important thing we learned is that we are part of a generous community of people who reach out in all directions to help one another,” Westfall said. “After the run, I looked out at all the people who had shown up for us, hundreds of them, and I knew right then that I would do it again next year. It was an awesome and humbling experience.”
This year’s event will take place starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Oneida Shores. In addition to the 5K, the event includes a free kids’ run. Registration is $25, which goes directly to the Food Bank of CNY and includes a glow-in-the-dark T-shirt. Music will be supplied by WOLF 105.1, and food and beverages will be available for sale. Walkers are also welcome. For more information or to register, visit hallowrun.com.
