By BOB ETTINGER - bettinger@starbeacon.com
Staff Writer
—
A variety of sporting events are scheduled Saturday to benefit the family of a Pymatuning Valley Middle School student fighting leukemia.
A non-competitive benefit race is being held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Pymatuning State Park to kick off a full day of events, Kelly Summers, who is helping organize the event, said.
“Emily Hunt is a sixth grader at Pymatuning Valley Middle School and battling leukemia for the second time. She has recently undergone a cord blood transplant and is in the hospital for at least three months building up her immunities and her white blood cell count,” Summers said.
Pre-registration is $15 and must be in Summer’s hands by Friday. Race-day registration is $20, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. at the main beach and the race starting at 9 a.m. Children under 12 run for free but must be accompanied by an adult, Summer said.
Chet Paul, an Andover area man who recently turned 50, set a goal to ride 200 miles before his 50th birthday but decided to postpone the trip and ride to help someone else, Summers said.
“It started with businesses sponsoring him,” Summers said.
She said then it sort of exploded with people offering ideas to make the day even more special.
A volleyball tournament is scheduled to start after the race, probably between 9:30 and 10 a.m., Summers said. She said a corn hole tournament will start at 1 p.m.
“It (the event) kind of has a family reunion feel,” Summers said.
Paul intends to ride his first 100 miles by noon and plans to stop by at the park following each 30-mile loop, which includes a trip into Pennsylvania and around a portion of Pymatuning Lake, Summers said.
Food will be available, at $5 a plate, under the white tent at the main beach, Summers said.
Summers may be contacted at 293-8331 or 228-0187 or by e-mail at ck2summers@yahoo.com.
Interested participants may also receive more information by checking out the event on Facebook at “Ride for Em.”
