Last year, the Philadelphia Warriors hockey team (made up of retired/disabled U.S. military personnel), in conjunction with the Flyers Alumni Association, wanted to hold its inaugural Walk, Run, Stroll 10K/5K/1K charity event in a place known for its military history.
Washington Crossing Historic Park fit the bill.
So it makes sense the Warriors and Flyers Alumni will return to the famous site on Sunday, April 30 for a second go-around of their races.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Bucks County YMCA’s veterans wellness initiative and the Warriors program.
Last year we wrote about how the Flyers Alumni looked far and wide for a host site and they said they came up with the perfect venue.
Brad Marsh, president of the Alumni Association and coach of the Warriors, indicated the organizations were pleased with how things went last year.
Marsh had explored several locations, including Valley Forge, before deciding on Washington Crossing Historic Park. The search actually began in 2019 but plans were delayed by the pandemic.
“When the Warrior program first started, my thought was to do an event to showcase the team,’’ Marsh, a former Flyer defenseman and accomplished triathlete, said last year. “Because of the veterans involved and they are all disabled. It’s more of an information event and to raise some funds for the program.’’
Interested participants can register at flyersalumni.net.
A number of former Flyers alumni are scheduled to compete in the races. Also slated to appear will be long-time Flyers public address announcer Lou Nolan and Flyers mascot Gritty.
The mission statement for the event can be found on the alumni website:
“The Flyers Alumni Association and the Flyers Warriors are dedicated to giving back to the Delaware Valley communities through local charitable giving, volunteerism and community involvement. It is events like the Walk, Run, Stroll that help us raise funds to maximize our ability to provide the greatest impact possible to worthy causes and those in need. The event and the course are unique as participants will travel past the barracks area in which the Continental Army was housed. The route will then traverse along the path in which General George Washington, and his troops marched before crossing the Delaware River into Trenton in Durham boats.’’
The race courses will cover a lot of historic aspects of WCHP.
“What’s neat about the course is our start-finish line is right where Washington’s troops slept,’’ Marsh said. “Our route is the route he took to cross the Delaware. It’s pretty cool. The routes go past the tombs of the unknown soldiers (in the cemetery across the Delaware Canal from Thompson-Neeley House). It’s a walk, run, stroll as we are billing it.’’
Additional beneficiaries of the race include the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, Every Child Deserves a Bike, Flyers Power Play, and 12 Days of Christmas Giving.
>Jasper to speak at Be Kind 5K
Lorraine Jasper, an age-group gold medalist at the recent U.S. Masters Indoor Track Championships in Louisville, Kentucky and a double age-group medalist in the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland last week, will be make a guest appearance at the Be Kind 5K at Holicong Park in Buckingham on Saturday, April 15 to benefit the Kin Wellness and Support Center for cancer survivors.
Jasper, a cancer survivor herself, ran a personal best 2:39 in winning the bronze medal in the 800 meters at Poland.
For more information, visit www.bucks5kseries.com
Race calendar
Saturday, April 15
Be Kind 5K/1-mile run, 9:30 a.m., Holicong Park, Buckingham. Contact www.bucks5kseries.com
