Rays of Hope to Celebrate Virtual Run and Walk Participants on Oct. 24

SPRINGFIELD — In light of COVID-19 and keeping safe, this year’s Rays of Hope is once again a hybrid virtual walk and run switched up so that registrants can walk or run wherever and whenever they chose. Now, those registrants who have completed their walk or run and raised their money will be celebrated this Sunday, Oct. 24. The drive-through event kicks off at 9 a.m. at Temple Beth El in Springfield and runs through noon.

Participants will drive under the iconic pink arch. Images and messages of hope will be displayed on the pink Jumbotron, sponsored by Radiology & Imaging Inc. A special Rays of Hope radio station will entertain during the drive, and there will be a traditional water stop along the route in the parking lot. The drive-through Parade of Hope offers participants the opportunity, without getting out of their cars, to pick up their 2021 T-shirt — and, for those who have raised $1,000 or more online, to pick up their special goodie bag. Breast-cancer survivors will also receive a gift from the Pink Hope Lounge as they drive by.

The Parade of Hope will be followed by an online Pink Celebration starting at noon with a slideshow and musical performance of original music by Noah Lis and continuing at 12:30 with a half-hour program featuring messages of thanks from Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health; Jane Albert, senior vice president and chief consumer officer at Baystate Health; Dr. Grace Makari-Judson, associate director, Cancer Services, and co-director of the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research at Baystate Health; Richard Swift, president and CEO of Health New England; Lucy Giuggio-Carvalho, founder of Rays of Hope; and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and will feature photos of survivors as well as a moment of silence.