Pictured from left are Katie Rodriguez, manager of the Kwik Fill/Red Apple location on Route 60 outside of Jamestown; Melissa Fardink, manager of the Kwik Fill/Red Apple on Foote Avenue in Jamestown; Frank Bartella, regional manager for United Refining; Kim Webb, manager of the Kwik Fill/Red Apple on Forest Avenue in Jamestown; Brian Samuelson, a member of the Laurel Memorial Run & Walk planning committee; and event founders Elaine and Wayne Hotelling.

JAMESTOWN – Area residents can show their support for people with disabilities by buying a special card at Kwik Fill.

From now through July 20, United Refining Company’s Kwik Fill and Red Apple Food Mart locations will be selling paper cards to raise money for the 22nd annual Laurel Memorial Run & Walk.

This is the 16th straight year that Laurel Run organizers have partnered with United Refining.  The cards will be sold at participating locations in Chautauqua and Erie counties in New York, and in Warren County, PA.  Customers who buy a card can write their name on it and have it displayed in the store.  The suggested donation is $1, but donations of any amount are appreciated.  Donations containers also will be set up in some locations, and people can put money in the containers if they’d prefer not to write their name on a card.

All of the money raised in Chautauqua County will go to Filling the Gap, which works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families.  Money raised in Erie and Warren counties will be split with organizations that support people with disabilities in each of those counties.  In Erie County, proceeds from the sneaker sales will be split with The Arc of Erie County; in Warren County, money will be split with Bollinger Enterprises.

The Laurel Memorial Run & Walk Run was created by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling of Silver Creek, NY, in honor of their oldest daughter, who had Down Syndrome.  The event seeks to raise public awareness about individuals with disabilities while providing an opportunity for people with disabling conditions, and those without, to come together at a fun, family-friendly event.

Proceeds from the Laurel Memorial Run & Walk are used to be used to enhance employment\ and work training opportunities for people with disabilities.  Wayne Hotelling noted that support from the business community is essential to the success of the Laurel Memorial Run & Walk.

“Without sponsors like Red Apple and Kwik Fill, this would not be a reality,” he said.

“Even though Laurel isn’t with us this year, she’ll be in our hearts for the rest of our lives,” said Frank Bartella, regional manager at United Refining.  “We’ll carry on her legacy and continue supporting all people with disabilities.”

This year’s Laurel Memorial Run & Walk takes place July 20 and 21.  The first day consists of a relay run and a 30-mile endurance run from Jamestown to Dunkirk.  The following day in Silver Creek there will be an 8-kilometer run, a 5k fitness walk, a 1k fun walk, children’s runs, and “Laurel’s Legacy Lap,” in which people with disabilities take a lap around the track at the village ball field.  There also will be a party featuring free food, music and activities for adults and children.

For more information about Laurel Run, phone (716) 661-4735 or visit www.laurel-run.org.

From now through July 21, area residents can show their support for people with disabilities by buying paper sneakers in conjunction with the 17th annual Laurel Run.

For the 11th straight year, The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc., are partnering with United Refining Company’s Kwik Fill and Red Apple Food Mart locations to sell paper sneakers.

Customers who buy a sneaker can write their name on the sneaker and have it displayed in the store.  The suggested donation is $1, but donations of any amount are appreciated.

For more information about Laurel Run, call (716) 661-4735.  Details also can be found by visiting www.laurel-run.com.