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Lights On The Lake 5K Run Proceeds Will Go To A Hospital Lights On The Lake 5K Run Proceeds Will Go To A Hospital

By Pa Zong Lee

PA-ZONG LEE: Starting at 6 AM this Sunday, there will be feet rushing through this road at Onondaga Lake. Lights on the Lake is hosting a 5K run where 750 runners will be expected. The proceeds from the run will go towards Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Event Coordinator, Zach Fenner, says this is a once in a lifetime experience.

ZACH FENNER: You go a mile and a half down the path that lights on the lake is on and then come back, and you get to run through all the lights and still go through when its dark… and like I said its a once in a… its a very unique run that you’re not gonna get anywhere else.

LEE: Besides the proceeds from the run, they are also accepting toy donations for the children at the hospital to celebrate the giving holiday.

FENNER: We’re taking donations… uhh… unwrapped toys, for Golisano’s Children’s Hospital, which you can drop off at the pick-up… the packet pick up times or on race day.

LEE: This is the second 5K run to be hosted at Lights on the Lake since 2019. Light show attendee, Christian Buonadonna, says the run is a great event despite himself not being a runner.

CHRISTIAN BUONADONNA: I am not a runner uhhh so I honestly probably would not umm… participate but I would definitely… uhh would be interested in donating or helping out umm whether its bringing gifts to the donation stop.

LEE: Before or after the 5-K run, you can drop off the toys here at Onondaga Lake, or drop them off at the pickup spots… in Syracuse, Pa-Zong Lee, NCC News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Lights on the Lake is back this year at Onondaga Lake, along with their second 5K run where the proceeds will go towards Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The run will take place on Sunday, Nov. 21 with 750 runners participating. Each participant paid $30 to enter the race.

Event coordinator, Zach Fenner, said the 5K run at the lake started in 2019 and has taken off since then.

“It sold out within three days because people realized how cool and unique it is, we wanted to bring it back last year, but of course because of COVID, we couldn’t… so we’re making the most of it and bringing it back again this year,” Fenner said.

Just in time for the holidays, Fenner said winners of the race will receive ornaments. All runners will receive hot chocolate at the finish line, along with a beanie!

Even if people don’t participate in the 5K run, they can still help support patients at the hospital. Lights on the Lake is accepting toy donations to be dropped off during the 5K race or at their packet pick-up spots.

Attendee, Christian Buonadonna, said he doesn’t plan to run in the race but is interested in donating toys. Since moving to Syracuse, Buonadonna tries to see the light show annually. He said he thoroughly enjoyed the opening night of the light show.

“I’m a big sports guy so I liked all the sports… sports figures and all the ones with action,” said Buonadonna.

Lights on the Lake will last until Jan. 14, 2022, but the toy donations can be dropped off at the packet pick-up place on Sunday at the Griffin Visitor center from 9 AM – 11 AM.

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