Era Reporter
To the children served by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of McKean County, the agency is full of superheroes.
CASA is inviting the community to join them in tying on their superhero capes and running shoes for the fourth annual CASA of McKean County Superhero 5K and Kids Fun Run. The event will be held Saturday morning before the start of Kids Fest.
Suzy Meyer-Page, CASA executive director, said the event is one of the organization’s annual fundraisers, and the money raised will help the organization fight for the wellbeing of McKean County children.
“All money raised will go towards training and supporting CASA volunteers to advocate for vulnerable children in the dependency system,” she said. “CASA does not receive any direct funding from the state and at this time only $1,500 from the county. The rest of the money needed for running the program comes from individual/corporate donations; United Way of Bradford, Port Allegany, and Smethport; and grant funding.”
The 5K will begin at 8 a.m., and the Kids Fun Run at 9:15 a.m., said Page. The 5K is for people of all ages, while the fun run is for children ages 10 and under.
The whole community is invited to run or walk.
“Anyone can participate,” said Page. “Participants are encouraged to dress as their traditional or invented Superhero.”
People can register for the races until 7 a.m. Saturday. The cost for the 5K is $30 for adults, $15 for youth 14 years and younger, and $10 for the Fun Run. Fun Run participants receive a cape.
Registration forms can be found at the Bradford Family YMCA, on the CASA of McKean County Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CASAMcKean or at CASA’s website at casamckean.org. Completed forms and registration fees should be turned in a the YMCA or the CASA office via the McKean County Courthouse, 500 W. Main St., Smethport. Checks are payable to CASA of McKean County.
People can register from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, too, when volunteers will be at the YMCA. Registered participants can pick up race day items such as their race bib and T-shirt during that time, too, if they wish, according to Page.
Other fun activities will be available, too, she said.
There will be a KaPow! Kids Fun Zone at the event,” said Page. “Activities planned at the Fun Zone include getting superhero tattoos, coloring superhero masks, making superhero power bands and shields, and getting their picture taken with various superhero props.”
As for the races, the 5K run/walk will start in front of the YMCA at 59 Boylston St., turn left onto Mechanic Street, right onto Barbour Street, left onto Campus Drive and turn around at the water station in front of the Richard E. and Ruth McDowell Sport and Fitness Center. The 5K will end back in front of the YMCA.
For the Fun Run, children will chase a villain down Boylston Street, thereby protecting the community.
Page said there is a costume contest for most creative costumes, and the top runners will receive medals, too.
“The categories are Best Dressed Adult Male Superhero, Best Dressed Superhero Boy, Best Dressed Adult Female Superhero, Best Dressed Superhero Girl, Best Dressed Superhero Baby/Toddler, and Best Dressed Superhero Group,” she said of the costume contest. “The winners will receive Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce gift certificates.
The 5K will be timed, and the top male and female finishers in the following age categories will receive medals: 14 and younger, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60 and above.
The annual McKean County Kids Fest will be held following the races from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CASA has been training volunteers in McKean County since 2015 “to advocate for abused and neglected children in the dependency system,” Page explained. “The program assures that these vulnerable children have a consistent, caring adult who will be there for them, no matter what.”
Since the start of the local branch, the organization has helped many of the county’s most vulnerable children, but there is room to grow.
“The goal for the CASA program is for every dependent child to have a CASA volunteer advocating for their best interests,” said Page. “At this point there are 26 volunteers either assigned a case or available to be assigned a case which is about 19% of the average number of children deemed dependent in McKean County at any given time. We obviously have a ways to go to meet this goal.”
Page is hopeful Saturday’s event will get the group a little bit closer.
“Money raised during the Superhero Run will help increase the overall number of volunteers advocating for these children,” she said.
