More than 40 local businesses and 670 runners and walkers are already registered for the GLOW Corporate Cup on Aug. 6.
This year the Merrill Lynch team in Batavia, the premiere sponsor of the event, has been working hard to increase sponsorship and the number of runners. Joshua Dent, vice president and planning committee member, expects at least 100 more runners will sign up before the race. Businesses can form teams and register online for the race until the day of the Corporate Cup.
Runners will take their mark at 6 p.m. at Centennial Park to compete in the 5K race. The team with the lowest combined time will be awarded the GLOW Corporate Cup. First Niagara Bank's team won last year.
All the proceeds from the race go directly to GLOW YMCA, which serves the communities of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Last year, the Glow Corporate Cup raised $18,000 for the GLOW YMCA. The Merrill Lynch team hopes to exceed that amount this year.
"The GLOW YMCA was a natural fit to give back to because they provide fitness and health programs to the communities that we work and live in," Dent said.
The AfterGLOW, the county's largest office party, will immediately follow the race. To support runners, local businesses are invited to set up tents in the park and bring food to celebrate. The after-party is a social event where employees can mingle with other companies and enjoy music from a local band.
John Riter, senior financial advisor, first came up with the idea of hosting a Corporate Cup after attending the Corporate Challenge in Buffalo. Riter said he thought it would be a great way to build the community and introduced his vision to the team. The team has been working to plan and host the event ever since.
In the future, the team would like to encourage more local businesses from surrounding counties to participate in the Glow Corporate Cup.
"The primary geographic location of the businesses participating right now is Genesee County," Dent said. "We really want to make it a regional event and we are working hard to promote it to surrounding counties."
Photo: Joshua Dent on Ellicott Avenue, at the point of the finish line for the GLOW Corporate Cup with the Cup. John Riter and Steve Tufts, co-organizers, were unavailable for a photo today. Photo by Howard Owens.
