Albany Times Union

Freihofer’s Run for Women asking for help

Hundreds of volunteers needed to make June 4 race day a success

- By Shaniece Holmes-brown

In less than two weeks, 2,500 runners will gather in Albany for the Freihofer’s Run for Women.

It will take hundreds of people working behind the scenes to make sure everything goes smoothly for the June 4 5K race.

The Freihofer’s, now in its 44th year, needs 400 volunteers to pull things off.

“This event is all about community and the empowermen­t for women,” said Kristen Hislop, event director. “So anybody that’s interested in supporting women, come on out and be part of it. It’s a community celebratio­n!”

The Freihofer’s Run for Women is the largest all-women’s 5K event in the Northeast.

Hislop said volunteers are key to the success of such large events, and that they play an integral role in raising community support.

“Volunteers make things happen,” Hislop said. “When people come down and volunteer, they have a great time. It’s very rewarding …”

Last year’s race, which drew elite athletes from near and far, was held in September because of the coronaviru­s pandemic. But this year’s race will return to June, the month it is historical­ly run.

To add incentive, T-shirts for the volunteers have been updated to say, “I make this race rise,” as a way to salute the important work of the race’s army of volunteers.

They will also have a volunteers’ dinner June 1 at Russell Sage College.

“We get a chance to get together with them, celebrate them, and give them their shirts and positions for when they come to the event,” Hilson said.

Interested individual­s may sign up to volunteer for a task they would like to participat­e in for a few hours. Volunteers can sign up at https://runsignup.com/race/volunteer/ny/ Albany/freihofers­runforwome­n

 ?? Phoebe Sheehan / Times Union archive ?? Kristen Hislop of the Freihofer’s Run For Women says the race needs volunteers to sign up for this year’s 5K, which will be held on June 4. The race, in its 44th year, is returning to late spring a year after it was run in September because of the coronaviru­s pandemic. Masters runners #44 Cassandra Henkiel, #43 Marisa Sutera Strange and #42 Christy Peterson sprint toward the finish during the run June 1, 2019, in Albany.
Phoebe Sheehan / Times Union archive Kristen Hislop of the Freihofer’s Run For Women says the race needs volunteers to sign up for this year’s 5K, which will be held on June 4. The race, in its 44th year, is returning to late spring a year after it was run in September because of the coronaviru­s pandemic. Masters runners #44 Cassandra Henkiel, #43 Marisa Sutera Strange and #42 Christy Peterson sprint toward the finish during the run June 1, 2019, in Albany.

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