New London Event Includes 1-Mile Dash for Kids
A 5K is a great way to kick off the Fall Family Cheese and Sausage Fest in New London.
The Cheese and Sausage Fest 5K, which was introduced in 2006, gives “people a healthy activity before participating in the craft and food centered festival in the downtown area,” said Ginger Arndt, recreation coordinator with the City of New London Parks & Recreation.
This year’s fast, flat and fun 5K will start at 8:30 a.m. on Sat. Sept. 12 at the Bernegger River Walk and will end at the Riverside Trail Park. Registration and check-in is at 7 a.m.
“Our goal every year is to have approximately 100 or so people participate but, of course we always want more,” said Arndt.
Registration, which is now open, is $20 per runner or walker, includes a long sleeve t-shirt, grab bag and post-race refreshments. Late registration, which starts Sept. 5, is $25 and t-shirts are on a first come, first serve basis. “The entry fees are used to support our special event fund, which is used to finance several free events throughout the year, our largest being the Kid’s Day event we just had on August 5 down at Hatten Park,” said Arndt.
The Cheese and Sausage Fest 5K will also include the Bulldog’s Character Dash, a one-mile children’s run that is sponsored by the Bulldogs of Character, an initiative through the New London School District that promotes self-discipline, caring, cooperation, respect, responsibility, diversity, fairness, trustworthiness and citizenship. “The dash has several student volunteers, mainly from the football team, participating with the younger students, giving them someone to look up too,” said Arndt. “It’s a lot of fun to see the two age groups interact in a positive way.”
The dash, which is free to youth 12 and under, is a loop run, starting at 8 a.m. before the 5K. Children participating in the event will receive a free goody bag, post-race refreshments and a medal of participation. “We will have supervised activities and a safe walk over to the finish line available for the youth that would like to stick around to cheer on their 5K run and walk friends and families as they finish,” said Arndt.
Registration of the dash can be the day of the event or in advance to allow organizers to plan ahead.
ThedaCare is supporting the event with a $2,000 donation because it recognizes the event helps to combat obesity, which was identified as a top three area to address by the New London Community Health Action Plan. “ThedaCare’s donation not only went to some special amenities for the runners that they will receive upon finishing but also a majority will fund prizes for the youth participating,” said Arndt. “Every child that runs will receive a special goody bag, most of which will be funded by ThedaCare.”
For more information or to register for the 5K, call (920)982-8521, stop at the Parks and Rec Department or visit www.newlondonwi.org to create your account and follow the step-by-step instructions and receive approval via email.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 6,800 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 35 clinics in 14 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. Construction of ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton and ThedaCare Medical Center – Shawano is underway. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
