Reading Lions Club-Sponsored 5K Road Race, Walk Returns This Summer

READING, MA — The Reading Lions Club is reminding the public that registration is open for this summer's Journey for Sight 5K Road Race and 1 Mile Walk.

The event, presented by the Lions Club and Friends of Reading Recreation (FORR), is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on July 20 at Memorial Park, located on Harrison Street.

"Eleven weeks until the Journey for Sight Road Race. It's a great time to start training for a 5K run," race organizers said in a post this week on Facebook.

Proceeds from the Journey for Sight 5K will go to the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund (MLERF), which, for over 71 years, has been helping people with a wide range of eye diseases.

The Reading Lions club has raised more than $300,000 for the MLERF over the years.

"No matter your pace, (by participating in the event) you'll be running with the Reading Lions and running for good ... helping researchers transform today's ideas into tomorrow's cures for eye health," event organizers said in a statement.

Registration for the event is available online. The race entry fee for people 18 years old and older is $30 pre-registration or $35 on the day of the race. The entry fee for people 17 years old and younger is $20 pre-registration and $25 on race day.

T-shirts will be given to the first 150 entrants. Plus, a professional DJ will provide entertainment on the day of the race, and pizza and refreshments will be provided for participants.

The race website also has a section to sponsor a participant and another to simply give a monetary donation to the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund.

On race day, awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers and the top 3 male and female finishers in each of the age categories: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-plus.