JAY — The 7th Annual Hope With Every Step 5K run/walk and family fun day will be held at Spruce Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Registration for the run/walk opens at 7 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. The theme is Superheroes. Anyone wearing a superhero costume will receive a free drawing entry.

Registration fees are $25 for an individual, $50 for a family of three, or $75 for a family of four.

Brochu said this is the third year part of the Rail Trail will be used with the course featuring both off road and in-town sections. There have been a lot of compliments on it, she said. 

The winning male and female racer will receive a $100 cash prize or a prize valued at $100. The first to cross the finish line gets to choose, organizer Lisa Brochu said. Medals will be awarded the top finisher in each age category.

A portable laptop will be awarded to the top fundraiser. Anyone raising more than $100 gets a free lunch voucher.

Calzolaio Pasta Co. in Wilton will serve a pasta lunch. Cost is $8 per person.

The Family Fun Day runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A 75-foot inflatable obstacle course, food, music, magic, plus live auctions and raffles are some of the fun to be enjoyed. New this year will be life-size board games such as Hungry Hungry Hippos and Chutes and Ladders.

Anyone registered for the race receives free admission to the Family Fun Day. A $5 unlimited-use bracelet is available for those not registered, Brochu said.

92 Moose will broadcast live from 9:30-11:30 a.m. A magic show is scheduled at 11 a.m.

Brochu said the Wal-Mart Heart Program will be there with its Touch a Truck.

Hope With Every Step raises money for and awareness about ataxia telangiectasia, a rare genetic disease. Josh and Brooke Brochu of Jay and Emmy Rowles of Lewiston are the only children in Maine with the rare condition. In the United States, fewer than 500 people have the disease.

Proceeds will help fund research for clinical centers and provide life-improving therapies.

Hope With Every Step raised about $63,000 in its first year and about $275,000 in the past six years, Brochu said.

The average research grant for the A-T Children’s project is written for $50,000. The goal is to raise $50,000 annually to fund a research grant, Brochu said.

For more information or to donate items, contact Lisa Brochu at 207-645-3224 or [email protected]; Brittany Parker at 207-782-7692 or [email protected]; or get an online fundraising page at atcp.org/TeamATMaine.

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Schedule of Events:

7 a.m.: Registration, breakfast

8:30 a.m.: Super Hero 5K Run/Walk

9:30-11:30 a.m.: 92 Moose live remote broadcast

10 a.m.: Opening ceremonies

10:15 a.m.: 1-mile HOPE Family Walk

11 a.m.: Magic show

Lunch of baked ziti with meat sauce, baked ziti with red sauce, baked pasta with chicken, broccoli and cream sauce, salad and garlic bread.

1 p.m.: Live auction

2 p.m.: Raffle and quilt drawing

3 p.m.: Closing ceremony