On behalf of everyone at The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc., we want to thank those who helped make our 26th annual Laurel Memorial Run & Walk a success. There were so many people and businesses who contributed to the success of this year’s event that we can’t list them all.

But we do want to draw attention to the following:

¯ Publisher Mike Bird, Editor John D’Agostino and the staff of The Post-Journal and OBSERVER for publishing the special Laurel Run/Walk edition of the paper. This was the 15th year of the newspaper sale, and we’re grateful for the exposure the special edition brings as well as the money it generates.

¯ Everyone who supported the newspaper sale by buying a paper or volunteering to sell papers. We were happy to have Senator George Borrello and Silver Creek Mayor Jeff Hornburg sell papers again this year. And we are grateful to the operators of the Tim Hortons in the North County and the South County for allowing volunteers to sell the papers at their locations.

¯ Representatives from the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility and all of the school districts who took part in the Jamestown-to-Dunkirk relay run.

¯ The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, New York State Police and the police departments from Dunkirk, Ellicott, Fredonia, and Jamestown for escorting the runners during the relay. Having patrol units accompany the runners helps ensure their safety while also drawing attention to the relay.

¯ Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas and his assistant, Carol Oliveira, for hosting a victory celebration at The Resource Center’s Lake Shore Drive facility following the relay’s conclusion.

¯ People with disabilities and their support staff from The Resource Center, who positioned themselves at various points along the relay route to cheer on the runners.

¯ The village of Silver Creek for hosting the main Laurel Run events, and especially the Emergency and Rescue Squad and the Department of Public Works.

¯ Matt and Karen Bogosian, who provided the sound system for music and announcements during the Silver Creek events.

¯ All of our awesome volunteers, who donated their valuable time to help make the events run smoothly. A special thanks to the Chautauqua County Fire Police for keeping runners and walkers safe.

¯ Niles Dening, Shannon Dening, Chris Anderson, Austin Mitchell, and Jane Young for their photography services.

¯ The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and other area media for providing coverage of this year’s events.

¯ Everyone who raised money for our event. In particular, we thank sisters Janelle and Jaylah Cossin, who again ran and cycled the 30-mile relay route, raising more than $900 in support of their efforts; and Kurt Langer, who raised more than $4,000.

¯ United Refining, which again sold “I support the Laurel Run/Walk” cards at area Kwik Fill locations

¯ All of the business and area residents who donated money or prizes.

¯ And of course, everyone who took part in the 26th annual Laurel Memorial Run/Walk.

The big news from this year was that event founders Wayne and Elaine Hotelling of Silver Creek announced they are going to step back from being so deeply involved in all of the planning and preparation that take place to put together the Laurel Memorial Ru & /Walk each year.

But they have identified several community members to take over some of the responsibilities that Wayne and Elaine have handled over the years, and they’ve left us their playbook on how to do everything. So we’re confident we can carry on the vision the Hotellings had when they created Laurel Run in 1997 in honor of their daughter Laurel – to celebrate the potential that exists within everyone who has a disability. Money raised through the event supports advocacy, employment and work training opportunities for people with disabilities.

The Laurel Run/Walk Planning Committee is looking forward to seeing everyone at the 27th annual Laurel Memorial Run/Walk on July 14-15, 2023.