Independent Perspective #1607

Guest:  Sarah Lanzo

Topic:  ILNC's Walk, Run & Roll Virtual 5K

Duration:  05:48

Published:  July 30, 2020

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living WNYIL). Our guest today is Sarah Lanzo, Director of Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC), and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Sarah.

Guest:  Thanks Ernie, how are you today?

Host:  Not bad. And we are here because we want you to tell us about a new wrinkle in the activities that ILNC is doing in the community. For many years, you've had something called the Smallmouth Bass Fishing Derby every August, and the COVID-19 business has caused you to rethink that. Would you say it's inadvisable to have a bunch of people together on a fishing boat and then in a barbecue thereafter?

Guest:  I would actually we gave that quite a bit of thought and we decided that for this year we are going to set aside the Fishing Derby and look forward to the opportunity to do it next year, but for this year we wanted to introduce a brand new event, and we're pretty excited about it. This year we're actually going to host what's called a Walk, Run & Roll, and it's actually going to be a virtual 5 and 10 K race. So, what that is, is for any person who is interested in participating, they can participate in this it's a healthy event. It allows you to get out of the house and participate in a walk or run or roll so whatever your preference. You can get out of the house, and you can enjoy some time moving around whether it be outside your house inside your building, take a walk around the block, and down the hall. And you sign up with us, and then you can just commit to taking that walk, run or roll for 5 or 10K. And at the end of it, you actually get a t-shirt. It's pretty it's pretty cool, I think.

Host:  Yes, I presume it has the logo that I've seen for the event which is a big circle with the showing somebody walking, running and rolling?

Guest:  It sure does. It sure does. And we're actually calling it our first annual because we're actually pretty excited and hoping to really get this up and running.

Host:  Of course, when you talk about 5K or 10K, I presume that people have to proclaim when they register, what it is that they choose to do?

Guest:  They actually don't Ernie. Some of this is actually really on the honor system there's a special link that you can sign up with that you could actually find on our Facebook, or you can reach out to us, and we can provide you with it. So you can if you have any questions about the event you can actually contact Jillian Moss at 716-284-4131 extension 146, or you can email her at jmoss@wnyil.org and the great part about this Ernie is that you sign up. And when you sign up. You make the donation the $30 and then you're committing to participate and complete the virtual 5K or 10K, and you just need to register on runsignup.com. So, you can find our Walk, Run & Roll on that website. But if you want to find us on Facebook you can go, we're at Independent-Living-Niagara-County, and you'll find our press release there.

Host:  Wonderful. I believe that since this is a charitable donation people can get a receipt from the website, when they pay the $30?

Guest:  You're right. They absolutely will.

Host:  And for the benefit of people who are really into the racing scene. I believe that they will be assigned an event specific unique competition number sometimes called a bib number that they can claim for their very own for the event in question.

Guest:  You're absolutely right Ernie.

Host:  And this event is also unique in that people have an entire month to carry it out, can you tell us about that?

Guest:  Sure, Ernie, we decided that, unlike the Fishing Derby that takes place on one day we wanted something that you could actually participate in and sign up for the entire month. So, if you're excited and you sign up right away, you can actually tell all your friends and they can sign up anytime from August 1 to August 25. That is the commitment that we will execute and complete our rock run and roll by the 31st but you do need to make sure that you sign up by Tuesday, August 25 at midnight.

Host:  Alright. Once more for people who didn’t have a pencil, what's the number for more information?

Guest:  716-284-4131 extension 146.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Sarah.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Sarah Lanzo, Director of ILNC, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.