Soul Ryeders’ fourth-annual half-marathon and 5K attracted over 2,000 runners, walkers, volunteers, sponsors, clients, caregivers, and cheerleaders Sunday to the parking lot of Playland Park, united in support of individuals facing a cancer diagnosis.
Every dollar raised from participants and sponsors goes directly toward funding Soul Ryeders’ mission of providing personalized programs and services to individuals impacted by cancer. Donations continued to pour in after race day, with over $90,000 contributed on the race’s fundraising website.
“This day is truly a group effort,” said Soul Ryeders Executive Director Heidi Kitlas. “It takes months of planning, commitments from sponsors, and over 250 volunteers to operate the race. We couldn’t do it without each one of them. Their support powers the work we do for our clients impacted by cancer.”
Soul Ryeders’ services are provided at no cost to clients across the New York tri-state area. Sunday’s race is the nonprofit’s biggest fundraising event of the year.
Equally important as the money raised is the community of support the race-day atmosphere provides. At the HOPE Tent, clients, survivors, and caregivers gathered to connect and share stories about their experience with cancer. Among the group was Soul Ryeders founder Sandy Samberg.
“When I look around and see our clients surrounded by this kind of energy,” Samberg said, “it reminds me of why we started this organization and how far we’ve come.”
A central cluster of picnic tables in the start/finish area became a gathering spot, where participants and spectators lingered over treats from sponsors and soaked in the spirit of the day – it was less a finish line and more of a block party.
The top fundraising teams, Carpe Diem, Year 9 NED, Team Deen, and Breast Friends, raised over $44,000 combined. Fundraising is open until the end of May, and tax-deductible donations can be made in honor of a specific team or individual participant at https://www.zippy-reg.com/fundraise/2370.
