Cranberry CUP kicks off 14th year on Friday
CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry CUP (Community Uniting People) is gearing up for its 14th year to raise money for its Inspirational Family, Kids Castle and needy families.
Money is raised through its kickoff party, golf outing, home run derby and community softball tournament.
Those events have raised more than $1 million since their inception.
This year’s activities run Friday through Aug. 4.
The inaugural 5K run, a 5K walk and a 1-mile run for children, will take place the morning of Aug. 3. The event will start in the community park at 8 a.m. and will end by the 10 a.m. opening ceremonies for the softball tournament in the park.
Cathy Cortazzo, Cranberry CUP board president, said there is still time to sign up for those wanting to run in the first race.
Online registration is open through Wednesday. The fee is $20, and $25 for sign up the day of the event.
“The kickoff party will be great again with a cool party favor from Armstrong/Guardian,” said Cortazzo. Tickets are available online for $20 and will be available that day for $25.
The party will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Cranberry Highlands Golf Course Clubhouse.
The most important part of the weekend, said Cortazzo, is the opening ceremony at Cranberry Community Park behind the Route 19 fire station.
“This is a wonderful time for the community to come out and support our Inspirational Family, the Longs,” she said.
This year’s Inspirational Family is the Long family of Cranberry.
Kim Long, 39, who is a Cranberry native and a 1992 Seneca Valley High School graduate, is a single parent of three children, Ricky, 15, Cody, 13, and Alexis, 11. She is being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The tournament also will be the same weekend volunteers will be contributing to the building of Kids Castle playground.
“It will be a very busy weekend for all of the wonderful people in Cranberry Township who are there to make a difference,” said Cortazzo.
Information and registration for the 5K run and walk is available through a link on the Cranberry CUP website at: www.cranberrycup.org.
