WESTFIELD — Gordy’s First Race 5K and 10K will return on New Year’s Day at the Westfield Boys & Girls Club for another year remembering the life and legacy of long-time runner and Boys & Girls Club supporter Gordon Bates.
Sponsored by the club, the race has grown over the last decade-plus as runners each year start the new year off with a race hosted in the memory of Bates. Westfield Boys & Girls CEO Club Bo Sullivan said that as a volunteer of the club, Bates was already a lead on the club’s annual half marathon event. After his passing in 2008, friends of Bates from the Springfield Runners Club and the Boys & Girls Club eventually came together and created this event in Bates’ honor.
“They started a race on New Year’s Day in honor of Gordy, so we’ve just kept it going for these last 16 years,” Sullivan said. “He was a good supporter of the club, so we kept it going right here and all the proceeds come right to programming for the club.”
Registration for the 5K is $30, and $35 for the 10K. To register visit bgcwestfield.org/gordy. The first 200 people to register will receive touch screen accessibly gloves on race day featuring the events logo. Last year’s event totaled 250-300 people, and similar numbers are anticipated for this year.
Westfield Boys & Girls Club Development and Marketing Director Jose Roman added runners can register in person the morning of the event between 9 a.m. and before races begin at 11 a.m. The gym stays open inside the club after the races so families and supporters of runners, as well as volunteers, can gather for pizza or hot cocoa.
“It’s a fun, quick little fundraiser. We get a lot of participation from within the community and people outside,” Roman said. “We anticipate seeing a flood of entries as we get closer, depending on weather.”
Sullivan added much appreciation to sponsor of the event ASignature Fence, as well as the support of the school and Police Department for making the event possible.
Overall, both Sullivan and Roman added they are excited for another year of the event and remembering Bates amongst the community.
“It’s something that we’ve always continued to do and like doing because of 1, Who Gordy was and the volunteerism that he had for the club, and 2, The money that is raised from this goes directly to the members of the club. There are certain programs that need a little boost every now and then and this is a perfect way to help that out. And then it gets community involvement. It’s one of the big things we like. We see a lot of the same runners but having said that there’s people coming from different towns and farther away so it’s a great way to start the year,” Sullivan said. “It’s just a fun day to get everybody to go and kick off the new year the right way.”
