ORANGE — The town’s police and fire departments have held a Battle of the Badges softball game since 2022 to support local families battling cancer, but this year, they decided to throw a bit of a changeup.
Instead, organizers have scheduled the “Mahar Cancer Fund Fun Run/Walk 5K” for 9 a.m. at Ralph C. Mahar Regional School on Saturday, Oct. 11.
“We just wanted to do something different and work more closely with the Mahar Cancer Fund,” Orange Police Officer Evangeline Cakounes said, “and maybe we can go back to doing the softball game.”
She said the games have been very successful, generating at least $5,000 each year. She has the same goal for this year’s event. All proceeds provide support in the form of gas cards, food and other expenses associated with cancer treatment.
There are options to walk/run the Mahar track or walk/run the 5K route throughout Orange. People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. To sign up or to donate, visit tinyurl.com/MaharRunWalk.
There will also be a gift basket raffle.
Cakounes has been coordinating with Kelly Knower, of the Mahar Cancer Fund. Knower explained she met Cakounes through various community events and she has experience organizing 5Ks through her former employment at the Athol Area YMCA. She is handling the marketing aspect of Saturday’s event and using Facebook to get the word out.
“I love bringing people together, No. 1, but I also love the education,” she said about the awareness raised of little-known resources. “It’s going to be a really fun day.”
The event is particularly relevant because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Orange Police officers are wearing pink versions of their uniform patches through Oct. 31.