*Read the original Waltham Times article here
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence will celebrate its 11th annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4, adding a new 5K fundraising race to its schedule of community activities, the nonprofit announced.
The free festival coincides with Domestic Violence Awareness Month and will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Waltham Common. Activities will include live music, community performances, food vendors and family-friendly events.
Sydney Carter, Reach’s prevention education program supervisor, said the festival is designed to raise awareness and build solidarity around domestic violence prevention.
“It has been such a pleasure to work with community members planning this event over the past three years,” Carter said. “Community is important for all of us, especially survivors, and I strongly believe that together we can work towards ending domestic violence.”
For the first time, the annual gathering will feature a professionally timed “Reach Beyond the Finish Line” 5K. Participants may register as runners or walkers; each will receive a bib number and a personal fundraising page at sign-up. The $40 registration fee counts toward the fundraising total, though no minimum fundraising amount is required.
A virtual registration option is available at no cost for those who prefer to participate on their own schedule.
Registration for the 5K race is open until Oct. 3.
“We are thrilled to introduce the 5K this year,” said Sarah Holroyd Wong, Reach’s director of development. “Every dollar raised will help fund essential programming, like our emergency shelter and direct support services, empowering survivors to find safety, heal and rebuild their lives.”
Questions about the Fall Festival can be directed to fallfestival@reachma.org, and inquiries about the 5K to development@reachma.org.
ReachBeyond Domestic Violence is a MetroWest Massachusetts nonprofit that provides shelter, advocacy and prevention programs with the goal of ending domestic violence.
