GREENFIELD — Get ready to lace up your sneakers and get walking for LifePath’s annual walkathon to raise money for Meals on Wheels on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Registration and check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. and walking starts at 10 a.m. at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, according to John O’Farrell, LifePath’s associate director of marketing and development.
“This is our 33rd annual walkathon,” O’Farrell said. “LifePath has been around for 51 years, and this fundraiser has been a tradition to support Meals on Wheels and other programs.”
According to LifePath’s annual report for 2024, the Meals on Wheels program served more than 175,000 meals and provided wellness checks to 1,100 people. O’Farrell said there are 31 routes that drivers take to serve 500 meals each week.
He added that the program is about more than just providing food; it’s about checking in on the community and seeing what help residents might need.
“It goes far beyond meals. Our drivers have direct contact with the people receiving these meals and can ask them how they are doing and check in on them,” O’Farrell said. “For some people, this may be the only human contact they have all day.”
O’Farrell said LifePath has set a goal of raising $50,000 through the walkathon. As of Monday, $30,000 had already been raised.
People are encouraged to come walk and enjoy a meal after. O’Farrell said LifePath scheduled the walkathon so it would coincide with another event being held at the fairgrounds, the Franklin County Fall Food Festival. From noon to 6 p.m. the fairgrounds will be home to food trucks, craft vendors, a classic car show, children’s activities, a K-9 demonstration by Greenfield Police and a barbecue competition.
“There’s doughnuts and popcorn and face paint and juggling — it’ll be a good time,” O’Farrell said.
This year, LifePath is creating a new way for people to support Meals on Wheels, even if they are unable to attend Saturday’s walkathon. O’Farrell said he understands people have soccer practice, football games and other things to do during the fall, so LifePath is allowing community members to hold their own walkathons later on and still contribute to the fundraising effort.
“Fall in New England is such a busy time for a lot of folks. We want to enjoy the fall foliage, but we understand that people’s time is limited,” O’Farrell said. “We still wanted to create an option for them.”
O’Farrell said people can get together with their family or neighbors and host their own walkathons. They choose whatever day, time and route works best for them, share the donation form so people can donate, then report their results to LifePath.
“The course route is up to you. It’s about bringing local communities and neighbors together,” O’Farrell said. “I could see a group of neighbors doing a walkathon and then getting together for a barbecue.”
O’Farrell said the do-it-yourself walkathons can be held anytime between now and June 30 to be counted toward the fundraising goal for this fiscal year. In addition to donations, LifePath is always looking for volunteers to deliver meals or assist with other programs.
For more information, visit lifepathma.org/events-workshops/walkathon.
