5k Road Race and 2 Mile Walk through Downtown Northampton Saturday December 6, 2008	Mayor Higgins' Hot Chocolate Run to benefit Safe Passage

Event Details

Runners

Walkers

Fifth Annual Mayor Higgins'
Hot Chocolate Run!

View the Hot Chocolate Run commercial from CBS-3!

Get Windows Media Player

December 6, 2008

2 Mile Walk
5K Run

Downtown Northampton

Registrants receive a collector's mug designed by nationally syndicated cartoonist Hilary Price of Rhymes With Orange. Steaming hot chocolate for all participants!

Proceeds from this event benefit Safe Passage, the Hampshire County organization providing comprehensive services to women, children, and families who have experienced domestic violence.

"...the Hot Chocolate Run is a brilliant event, one of the best community-sponsored and community-oriented races/runs I've ever seen." John Stifler, sports columnist for the Hampshire Gazette

Broadcasting live from this year's event will be WHMP!

WRSI’s Monte Belmonte and Kelsey Flynn will emcee this year’s event.

Sponsor Bill Dwight as he runs his very first 5K!

That's right, the Valley's own radio personality (The Bill Dwight Show on WHMP), local video store employee (Pleasant Street Video) and former Northampton City Councilor who wore a dress to a council meeting and lived to tell about it, has chosen the Mayor Higgins' Hot Chocolate Run as his very first 5k!

What can you do to support this remarkable feat?

Sponsor Bill (all proceeds to benefit Safe Passage) by clicking here.
Train along with Bill and his coach, radio personality Jaz Tupelo, or just track his progress by checking out his blog.
Sign up for the Hot Chocolate Run and run alongside (or in front of) Bill.
Show up on Strong Avenue on December 6 at 10:00 to cheer Bill on!

Middle and High School Student Challenge!
Prizes to top 3 Boys & Girls ages 15 to18 and 14 and under.

Thank you to our sponsors for the Middle School & High School Challenges:

northampton running.co
Wright Builders
Drs. Clayton, Kleinman and Canby - General Dentistry, Northampton

Free toys for all participating elementary school students generously donated by A2Z Science and Learning Store!

Free massage and chiropractic care at the event!

Meet the polar bear and penguin at the race!

The Northampton YMCA is pleased to support the Hot Chocolate Run and is offering new members a free entry!

Sign up for a 3-month Y membership before December 1, 2008 and the Y will pay your Hot Chocolate Run entry fee! Plus, you get a free YMCA t-shirt! www.hrymca.org.

Universal Health and Fitness is offering free entry fees for the HCR for all current Universal members, free team tee shirts, and is doing weekly runs from the gym to train for the race!

Northampton Winter Craft Fair - benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County

The Northampton Winter Craft Fair, formerly at Smith College, will be held on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2008 at Northampton High School from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. This great location provides easy access, ample parking and room to stretch. This long standing, popular community event is perfect for holiday shopping. Featuring more than 80 local and regional artisans of all handmade arts and crafts, the Northampton Winter Craft Fair is one of New England's oldest and finest. For more information, www.bbbshamp.org.

So what does it take to make gourmet hot chocolate for 2,500 people?

NORTHAMPTON COFFEE donates 150 lbs. of sugar, 50 lbs. of cocoa powder, and 160 ounces of vanilla extract

VOLUNTEERS measure and prep cocoa and sugar mixture for each gallon of hot chocolate

OUR FAMILY FARMS donates 150 gallons of milk and delivers it to the kitchens early in the morning

EASTSIDE GRILL donates a kitchen and early morning chefs

SIERRA GRILLE donates a kitchen and early morning chefs

NORTHAMPTON RENTAL, TAYLOR RENTAL, MYER'S CATERING AND PORTABELLA CATERING donate thermoses

PEDAL PEOPLE load thermoses onto their bicycle trailers, refill them with steaming hot chocolate and bring them to the Hot Chocolate pods.

And there you drink it!
Delicious hot chocolate for 2,500 people!

Hot Chocolate Run
2008 Sponsors

BLUE RIBBON SPONSOR