Canton Cares 5K Road Race is Saturday after Thanksgiving

CANTON – If you miss out on a Thanksgiving Day road race or you have some extra calories to burn, there will be a new road race in Canton for runners to participate in.

The Canton Cares 5K road race will be held Saturday, Nov. 26, beginning at 9 a.m. near the Canton Volunteer Fire Department at 5 Canton Springs Road.

The 3.1 mile race will be held on the Farmington Valley Trail.

Proceeds from the race will be donated to Mary’s Place in Windsor, a place for children who have lost a significant person in their life.

Sean Richard, who grew up in Canton, is organizing the race. “This is very close to my heart as I lost my mom (Nancy) to cancer when I was younger (in 2013),” he said referring to Mary’s Place.

He was touched how the Canton community rallied around his family when his mother was battling cancer.

“The Canton community came together and raised tens of thousands of dollars for my family and made us meals for dinner while my dad was at the hospital, bringing her in for treatment,” Richard said. “I have the opportunity to give back now and that’s what I’m doing. This (annual) race will be giving thanks to this community.”

You can sign up online at the race website until Friday, Nov. 25 at 11:59 p.m. for $22.58, including a 2.58 fee for the website. Limited in person registration will be available on race day morning for $20.

Top three men and top three women in the race will receive awards, Richard said.