By Liz Nolan, Contributing Writer
Northborough – The Northborough Applefest Committee has been working hard on plans for this year’s annual fall event scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 22. The 5K Road Race has long been a part of the Applefest history and will be held Saturday, Sept. 21. Two changes made this year are the race sponsorship and the race route.
Boros Cares 4 Troops (BC4T) will be stepping up as the sponsor after 25 years of sponsorship by the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce wanted to invest more time directly to helping the companies they serve,” said Applefest Committee Chair Michelle Gillespie.
BC4T was founded by four Northborough women – Leslie Arsenault, Karen Brewster, Beth Davison and Michelle Gillespie. The mission is to create care packages a few times a year for deployed troops to help remind them that people back home love, care and support them and to show veterans in the community that their sacrifices and service are remembered and appreciated.
Proceeds from the race will benefit BC4T.
“There are 200 local veterans and the race will now help to raise money for veterans,” said Gillespie.
There are a lot of logistics behind the scenes to organize a successful race. Volunteers are always welcome.
Participation has increased over the years, with up to 500 runners each year, making it necessary to relocate the start and finish line this year to Robert E. Melican Middle School, 145 Lincoln St., Northborough.
The certified 5K course will be well marked and monitored and runners will be officially timed. The route is posted on the Applefest website.
Online registration is $30 and can be completed at www.lightboxreg.com/applefest-5k_2019?mobile=0 through Sept. 6, after which the fee increases to $35. Race day registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the race officially begins at 10 a.m.
The first 300 pre-registered runners and walkers will receive a race t-shirt.
Refreshments, music, and a goody bag for all participants will be available at the finish line. Prizes will be awarded to the first place male and female runners.
Teams are encouraged and prizes for the largest team and the team with the most spirit will be awarded.
In addition to care packages, BC4T also matches volunteers with veteran requests throughout the year; partners with elementary schools to have students make Valentine’s Day cards; and offers a scholarship to a high school student with the criteria being the student needs to find a veteran in the community, learn about the veteran’s service, provide an act of kindness and write about the experience.
View BC4T’s website at www.bc4t.org for more information or to make a donation.
The complete Applefest event schedule can be found at www.northboroughapplefest.com or follow the event on Facebook.
