The name of the race implies fun and games but for one of its partners, it’s more about help for a serious cause.
For the past several years, the Shamrock Shuffle 5K in Newtown has brought the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day to the Bucks County running community.
A portion of the proceeds from the 3.1-mile event go to the “A Love for Life” fund which assists in the battle against pancreatic cancer.
This year’s Shuffle is scheduled for Saturday, March 11.
A few years back we wrote about how A Love for Life’s Christine Edmonds helped put together this important organization.
It started with her first-hand experience with the disease.
She lost her husband, Kevin, to pancreatic cancer. Kevin’s sister also passed away from the same disease.
In past years, A Love for Life has been contributing money to the University of Pennsylvania, with some yearly amounts exceeding $100,000.
Originally, people from A Love of Life were volunteering to help with the race, including serving as course monitors.
Now they’ve being rewarded for their efforts.
The Shamrock Shuffle, which is directed by Always Advancing’s Chris Seiler, will feature a start and finish on State Street adjacent to The Temperance House restaurant.
“They (Always Advancing) are great community partners,’’ Edmonds said. “It’s a real important cause to us. We have a lot of people who have lost somebody to pancreatic cancer, whether it was a husband, a friend. It’s a really important part of our lives.’’
A Love for Life also raises money via a golf tournament and donations from dragon boat racing. Estimates have the three events generating more than $1 million for the cause.
For more information on a A Love for Life, visit www.aloveforlife.us
Seiler looks forward to another strong field for the race, with more than 800 runners a good possibility.
“It’s become a tradition that we’re building,” Seiler said in a previous interview. “It’s always been a great day for families. And our partner, A Love for Life. . .we’re just a big advocate of theirs since day one. Christine is a Newtown resident, she lives right up the street from this race. It’s just a perfect partnership.’’
Said Edmonds back in 2020: “It is a way to raise money but it’s huge for us to raise awareness. So many people don’t know that we exist. We just keep doing what we’re doing and hopefully each year we get a little bigger.’’
For more information on the Shamrock Shuffle, visit www.newtownshamrockshuffle.com
Sponsors for the race include: The Pro Shop of Newtown, Triple Sun Newtown, The Salt Cave, Newtown Brewing Company, Newtown Hardware House and Newtown Bicycle Shop.
“When we started this race we wanted to just have a fun run for the community,” said Seiler. “Now we have a full-blown Newtown event. It has allowed us to bring people here to see our beautiful town, raise money and awareness for a local charity, as well as promote local businesses and restaurants with exclusive discounts.”
Following the Shuffle there will be an after-party at Temperance House, which will feature live music, Irish dancers, food and drink specials not only for the runners but to anyone who wants to thrown some green on and join the fun.
Race calendar
Sunday
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup 4-Miler, 10 a.m., Churchville. Contact www.runsignup.com
Saturday, March 11
Looney Leprechaun 10K/20K Trail Races, 9 a.m., Richboro. Contact www.runsignup.com
Shamrock Shuffle 5K, 9 a.m., Newtown. Contact www.newtownshamrockshuffle.com
