The Cushion Peak Hero’s Challenge: Providing for the children of our actively deployed military men and women.

The Cushion Peak Hero’s Challenge is a 5k Trail Run, or 1 Mile Walk, to support our local Operation Purple Camp on October 20th at 1pm.  Operation Purple Camp is a free week of summer camp for the children of actively deployed military men and women.

The South Mountain YMCA Camps are offering the Cushion Peak Hero’s Challenge as a challenging and rewarding fundraiser to support Operation Purple.  The 5k Trail Run travels some beautiful trails and fire roads on the South Mountain.  You can enjoy the fall foliage, get your workout in, and raise money for a great cause.  There is also a 1 Mile Fun Walk.  Details on the event are below.

Operation Purple Camp is offered each year at the South Mountain YMCA Camps.  This program recognizes that “Kids Serve Too”. In partnership with the National Military Family Association, the Operation Purple Camp is a week for having fun, making friends, and reminding military children that they are our nation’s youngest  heroes. We provide camping experiences that serve children from every branch of the military and it is truly an amazing week for both campers and staff. For more info please contact, Sue Williams, Associate Executive Director, at 610-670-2267 or by email at swilliams@smymca.org.

LOCATION/REGISTRATION:  Starts at the South Mountain YMCA Camps (GPS: 201 Cushion Peak Road, Reinholds); Registration/number pickup at Bynden Wood Lodge starting at Noon,  5K starts at 1:00 PM.  This is a mass start.  Online Registration is not available for this event.

COURSE:  The course is wheel-measured, features 400ft of elevation, rocky trails,  and is not for the faint of heart.

AMENITIES:  T-shirt to all pre-registrants of 5K with refreshments for finishers, indoor toilet facilities & showers, loads of parking, time clock at finish and instant results. The Camp will open the Climbing Tower and Zip Line for all interested participants at 2pm.  Held rain or shine.  No refunds or mailed awards.  Results on the South Mountain YMCA Camps FACEBOOK Page in 72 hours.

AWARDS:  Awards for the male & female winners and runner-ups plus:  18 & Under: 3M, 3F;  19 – 29: 3M, 3F;  30-39: 3M, 3F;  40-49: 3M, 3F;  50-59: 3M, 3F;  60+: 3M, 3F.

ENTRY:  $20 for 5k, $5 for walkers, if postmarked by October 15, 2013.  Afterwards, including race day, $25 for 5k and $10 for walkers.    Shirts available while they last.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR ALL:  Take 422 from Reading towards Lebanon  In Sinking Spring, turn left onto Columbia Avenue.  Columbia Avenue becomes Fritztown Road.  Turn right onto East Galen Hall Road.  Turn right onto Cushion Peak Road.  The entrance for the South Mountain YMCA Camps will be at the top of the mountain on your left.  For GPS Directions, use 201 Cushion Peak Road, Reinholds, PA.

Contact Michele Reinert at 610-670-2267 or mreinert@smymca.org for more information.