Down River 5K Run, 1 Mile Fun Walk/Roll debuts June 25

Join The Family & Friends Down Syndrome Association of Niagara Inc. Saturday, June 25, for the first Down River 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk/Roll for its "Miles of Care" initiative.

The event will start and finish in the main parking lot at Fort Niagara beach in Youngstown. The course is fast and flat and offers scenic views of Lake Ontario, the Lower Niagara River and Youngstown.

The "Miles for Care" goal is to afford transportation for parents/caregivers and their child or children born with Down Syndrome currently living in the Erie-Niagara counties region who require lifesaving surgery or medical treatment outside of New York. The program is designed to reach out to these families and financially assist them with their transportation costs to and from the health care facility of their choice.

Online registration will remain open right up until the start of the race. Race day registration and packet pickup will take place from 9 a.m. right up until the start of the race at 11 a.m. Official Down River Run shirts will be guaranteed to all runners who register by June 19. Extra shirts (if any) will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on race day until they are gone.

Registration is $25 until June 19, and then $30. Children ages 5 and under are free.

Parking is free for all advance registrants showing a copy of their email confirmation at the gate. Pool access is also free to all participants.

Awards will be presented to the first-place overall male and female finishers along with the top three male and female 5K runners in age groups ranging from 14 and under to 70 and older.

Gun start/chip finish timing services using industry-leading Jaguar Electronic RFID timing will be provided by Race Management Solutions. Results are updated throughout the race in real time and can be accessed at any time after crossing the finish line.

Race participants can also use the ITS YOUR RACE platform to view and share finish line photos with family and friends for free on Facebook. Custom finisher certificates can also be downloaded from the results page at no charge.

A post-race celebration will follow with food and beverage by The 716 Food Truck, music by Asylum Productions and an awards ceremony.

For additional information on the race, or sponsorship opportunities, contact Chris Sirianni at 716-870-4904. For additional information, visit the official website at www.dsaniagara.org.