Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — With COVID-19 cases on the rise, a local charity run has gone virtual. This past Saturday, Paige’s Butterfly Run had its 25th annual run in Baldwinsville for pediatric cancer research.
Usually, the event brings in 2,000 runners and walkers, but COVID-19 limited Saturday’s Paige’s Butterfly Run to 250 people. To combat their limited capacity, the in-person participants were asked to fundraise at least $250. Plus, the organization introduced a week-long virtual event where people from around the country are able to participate in runs of their own and donate to the cause.
Executive Director Myia Hill said that virtual participation is booming with people from all over the country contributing.
“There’s someone from Michigan, and I’m pretty sure there’s someone all the way from Washington,’ Hill said.
The virtual event allows each runner or walker to compete at their own level of toughness. The organization has created three options for participants which include a 5K, a 3K, and a kids fun run option. Once the runners and walkers are done, they are encouraged to post a virtual participant bib or proof of completion of their run or walk to any form of social media. The fee for participating is $40 but all donations are welcome.
The donations for this event will go to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital for pediatric cancer research. Hill said working with the hospital is a dream come true.
“They’re very supportive of all our…events and fundraising efforts that we do,” she said.
At Golisano Children’s Hospital, the charitable donations will be going to various funds, including Paige’s Cancer Research Fund, Paige’s Family and Survivor Assistance, Paige Yeomans Arnold Memorial Endowment, Paige’s Barnes and Noble Book Fair Drive, and Paige’s Comfort and Family Fund.
Virtual participation lasts through Thursday. All donations will be accounted for and a statistical analysis page will be created for the in-person and virtual event totals.
