For 4th Year, Warriors for a Cure Aims to Lead U.S. in Cancer Research
By Bobby Johnson
October 16, 2019
Experiential
It’s tough to humble a guy who has run the Grand Canyon–twice. Or who ran a 34-mile trail in Iceland this past summer, all the while nursing a torn meniscus. But each September, when Wilton comes together to raise money to fight cancer as the Warriors for a Cure team under his leadership, Wilton resident Jeff Snyder is exactly that.
“I am humbled by the support we get from the local community,” he says.
Indeed, the Wilton community has been super generous in the four years that the Warriors for a Cure team has been running on behalf of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), an organization supporting pediatric cancer research (that explains the lemon suits, above). Hundreds of Wilton residents join the team to run, bike and walk miles in a month-long effort to help tally one million miles altogether from all participants across the US and around the world for the ALSF’s “Million Mile Run/Walk/Bike.”
The community donates generously as well: each year for the last four years, the team has been the number one fundraising team, and raising a total of more than $258,000 for the cause.
With September marking Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Warriors for a Cure has formed once again. Jeff is, of course, eager for the team to regain the top spot on the fundraising leaderboard. As the Chief Inspiration Officer and founder of Inspira, an experiential marketing firm, he is super talented at motivating people to take part. All month long he has planned events to get people involved, excited, moving and most importantly, fundraising.
The Warriors for a Cure team is also partnering with local businesses and sponsors. Prime among them is JoyRide Wilton, which is helping team members log miles from every spin class a participant takes. There are even special Million Mile Run themed rides that JoyRide has scheduled, including the team kickoff event in Wilton at JoyRide on Friday, Sept. 2.
Snyder is also organizing group fun runs, and he will once again be donning the lemon costume (and he may even rope in a friend or two to also take lemon suit duty). That will be accompanied by a selfie campaign–Snyder’s company Inspira will donating $20 for every tweet to #lemonsuitselfie along with a selfie snapped with one of the human lemons during the month.
In addition to JoyRide and Inspira, other sponsors include LogicSource, ASML, O’Neill’s Pub, and Power Home Remodeling.
As Jeff and the other participants are fond of saying, every step counts. The Warriors for a Cure team always welcomes returning members, first-time participants, and anyone who runs, walks or bikes can log miles in September that go toward the total. This year’s fundraising goal is $75,000.
Warriors for a Cure has a website with lots of information on events that are planned and how to register with the team. Or, anyone interested in joining the team or simply donating, visit the team donation page.
Among the scheduled events:
Thursday, Sept. 1:
Friday, Sept. 2: Spin class – JoyRide, Wilton 9:50 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 5: Wilton Warrior Family Fun Run – Wilton HS Turf, 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 7: Spin class – JoyRide, Wilton 5:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 13: Spin class – JoyRide, Wilton 8:45 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 18: Beer Run with Pizza Truck and Lemonade Stand – O’Neill’s, Norwalk 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 20: Spin class – JoyRide, Wilton 5:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 26: Spin class – JoyRide, Wilton 6:45 p.m.
As featured in Good Morning Wilton
