Walkathon, Soupstock Festival slated in June

    SHELTON - The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley is holding its fourth annual walkathon June 9, with a rain date of June 10.
    The walkathon, named the “Get Your Walk On” Herbie Rollinson Memorial Walk for the Kids, is being held to raise money to support programs at the Shelton and Ansonia clubhouses.
    More than 2,000 children from all over the Valley enjoy membership throughout the year at the two clubhouses .
     Registration begins at 10 a.m. at Veteran’s Park off Canal Street.
    The walk begins at 11 a.m. The route is the paved path that runs around Veteran’s Park, and participants may walk as many or as few laps as they wish.
    A minimum pledge of $25 is required for all walkers, which includes commemorative T-shirt, lunch courtesy of Outback Steakhouse exclusively for walkers, and discounted entry fee to Soupstock’s soup tent. Soupstock is an all-day festival hosted by Shelton business Liquid Lunch. 
    Walkathon prizes will be awarded for the Top Individual and Top Team fundraisers.
    Walkers may want to bring their lawn chairs and stay for the entire day. The Boys & Girls Club will be hosting a Classic & Antique Car Show on the Veteran’s Park lawn from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Enjoy the cool cars, great food, and some rock ‘n roll!
    The Soupstock Festival will run from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and will feature the soup-tasting tent, live music, food vendors, artisans, and crafts and entertainment for children.
     Marquis Sponsorships of $2,000 include headliner logo on the walkathon T-shirts, logo on all marketing materials, and a prominently displayed sign at the walk site. Other sponsorships range from $200-$1,500.
    Information, registration and sponsorship forms, may be found at BGC-LNV.org/getyourwalkon.aspx. Payment for walkers and sponsorships may also be made online. Contact Ann Wheeler at 203-924-7462 or AnnWheeler@BGC-LNV.org for information.

    “Get Your Walk On” has raised approximately $33,000 over the past three years, beginning with around 50 walkers the first year and swelling to more than 200 participants and more than 20 sponsors. Membership in the Boys & Girls Club is open to all youth ages 6-18. Members have access to our games room, gym activities, Homework Club, chess, cooking and nutrition program, crocheting, drama, flag football, Immersion (Aquatic) Science, Keystone Club, SMART Moves, and Torch Club—all at no additional charge.
    Sports leagues include basketball, indoor soccer, and KidSafe Karate. Music lessons run throughout the school year.
     And TGIF is a program open to middle school students every Friday from October-March. In the summer, there is a weekly camp for ages 6-15 which includes free weekly cookouts and special events.

This information was provided by Ann Wheeler at the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.