Bunny Hop returning to Beverly
Event kicks off 2022 race series
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BEVERLY -- The 20th Annual Beverly-Waterford 5K Bunny Hop will kick off the 2022 River City Race Series on April 16 in Beverly.
The race, virtual during the pandemic, is held the day before Easter.
The Bunny Hop is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 389 of Beverly and the proceeds will benefit the Beverly Waterford Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Squad, and other projects and events in the community sponsored by Unit 389.
More than 100 volunteers participate including from the Lions Club, Fort Frye and Waterford high schools National Honor Societies, Boys and Girls Scouts, and auxiliary members.
Over the past 19 years, thanks to sponsors and hundreds of volunteers and participants, the Bunny Hop has raised more than $75,000 to benefit the Beverly and Waterford communities.
Race day registration and pre-registration packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 16.
The 5K for runners begins at 8:30 a.m. and walkers will take to the road five minutes later at 8:35 a.m. The race features electronic timing.
Participants leave Fort Frye High School and run through residential sections of Beverly, returning to Fort Frye High for the finish.
Following the race, volunteers and participants wait for race results and a drawing for door prizes and baskets, donated from local businesses to support the event. All race participants and volunteers get one ticket to the drawing, and the drawing for baskets occurs while results are tabulated.
Awards are given for the top three male and female participants in each age category and overall winners for both the running and walking event.
Runners and walkers interested in participating in this year's Bunny Hop 5K can go to the Bunny Hop website at www.bunnyhop5k.com for information about the race, race route, on-line registration information/link, and pictures from former races.
The cost to enter the Bunny Hop is the same as it was 20 years ago, $15.
Registration forms can also be found at local businesses in Beverly and Waterford, including Citizens Bank, Waterford Commercial & Savings Bank, B&W Pharmacy, Sponey's IGA and Wainwright's Jewelry.
Register before April 10 to be guaranteed a 20th Annual Beverly-Waterford Bunny Hop T-shirt,
This year for the first time, a Kids Race has been added to the Bunny Hop. After the Bunny Hop participants have crossed the finish line, while final race results are being tabulated, the River City Runners are hosting a series of short races for children as part of the River City Kids Racing Series.
Fifty-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes will be available for those registered through River City Runners.
Through donors, the free Kid Races will offer a race pack, ribbons, a shirt for the first time in the series, race bib and popsicles at the end.
Amy Eddy, director of the River City Runners Kids Racing Series, said the races are held with 5Ks around the county to encourage kids to become active runners and walkers.
Registration forms are available from rivercityrunnersandwalkers.com or on race day.