The sixth annual Run for Chris 5K With the Y will be held on Saturday, June 24 in Essex, starting at the town hall. The addition of “With the Y” to the event’s name reflects this year’s official partnering with the Valley Shore YMCA. The YMCA will bring a family aspect to The Run for Chris, which will kick off the Y Run Club’s race season as the featured race.

To encourage families to race together, all children aged 14 and under can register for free before Friday, June 2. The event includes a kids’ fun run, face painting, music, and games. The 5K course passes through historic Essex with beautiful views of the Connecticut River. Awards, food for the runners, and a great raffle, will round out the morning’s festivities.

The race is held in memory of Christopher Belfoure, a 2005 graduate of Valley Regional High School. All of the proceeds will benefit the The Chris Belfoure Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Middlesex County.

While a student at Valley, Belfoure went on several school trips abroad. He went on to major in History and Chinese Studies at West Virginia University. Belfoure also spent a considerable amount of time studying abroad in China and became fluent in Mandarin when he was in college.

Influenced by his own life-altering journeys, Belfoure was passionate about encouraging others to also broaden their horizons and follow their own paths. Sadly, Belfoure lost his life at the age of 24, and so to keep his inspiration and passion alive, The Chris Belfoure Memorial Fund was established in 2011. The fund is intended to perpetuate Belfoure’s vision by helping local area high school students travel abroad.

“I think the race is also quite indicative of the ups, downs, and flat stretches in life we all face from time to time,” said a race participant. “You have a wonderful foundation that celebrates the life of Chris and which seeks to help others. That is incredibly admirable.”

To date, 142 Valley Regional students have benefited from the fund, traveling to places like Costa Rica, France, and Spain for a total of $9,145 in grants. On April 24, students departed for Paris, supported by a $3,000 grant from the Chris Belfoure Memorial Fund that was made possible by proceeds from the race and from its sponsors.

To register for the run, visit www.aratrace.com. For more info, contact race director George Chapin at george_c@snet.net or visit www.chrisbel4mf.com.