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SO CATS WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE… CONFRENCE PLAY STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 22ND. PART OF THE BEAUTY OF SPORT IS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. AND TODAY… MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN A TRADITION ROOTED IN BURLINGTON. THE 13TH ANNUAL ZOE’S RACE FOR THE HOWARD CENTER… KICKED OFF THIS MORNING FROM OAKLEDGE PARK IN BURLINGTON. ERIKA NESTOR STARTED THE EVENT 15 YEARS AGO… AFTER HER DAUGHTER ZOE HAD A NEAR DEATH EXPERIANCE AT 18 MONTHS OLD… BOUNDING HER TO A WHEELCHAIR FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. THE NESTOR’S HAD TO REMODEL THEIR HOME TO ACCOMIDATE WHEELCHAIRS… AND NOW RAISE MONEY FOR OTHER FAMILIES GOING THROUGH A SIMILAR PROCESS. ZOE’S RACE HAS RAISED CLOSE TO 300,000 DOLLARS… BUT THE EVENT IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE PROJECT. <ERIKA NESTOR, TITLE, “IT’S UNIQUE IN THAT SENSE OF ANYBODY CAN COME AND PARTICIPATE, EITHER WATCHING OR RUNNING OR CHEERLEADING. I DON’T KNOW OF ANY OTHER RACES WHERE YOU THERE’S FRESH CORN ON THE COB AT THE END. THE FOOD HERE IS RIDICULOUS. AND THEN YOU CAN HEAR THE HOKEM BROTHERS IN THE BACK. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE IT’S JUST SUCH A FUN DAY.”>

Zoe’s Race for the Howard Center returns for 13th running

Close to $300k raised since the event began 15 years ago

“I don’t know of any other races where there’s fresh corn on the cob at the end!”Erika Nestor has turned a charitable cause, into a family fun event. The 13th running of Zoe’s Race for the Howard Center held its annual end-of-summer event at Oakledge Park in Burlington, helping raise money for families in need of handicapped home renovations.Erika’s daughter, Zoe, was 18 months old when she had a near-drowning incident that left her paralyzed, and in a wheelchair, nearly 20 years ago. Now after 15 years of raising money, the Nestor’s have raised nearly $300,000 for families in need of home renovations. Outside of a fundraiser, Zoe’s Race offers donors a 1k, 5k, or 10k walk/run. Oakledge Park comes alive with family fun activities, including a band, Ben & Jerry’s, and grilled corn on the cob.”It’s unique in that sense of anybody can come and participate, either watching or running or cheerleading,” said Nestor. “I don’t know of any other races where there’s fresh corn on the cob at the end. The food here is ridiculous. And then you can hear the Hokum Brothers in the back. We have a lot of people who come back year after year because it’s just such a fun day.”

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

“I don’t know of any other races where there’s fresh corn on the cob at the end!”

Erika Nestor has turned a charitable cause, into a family fun event. The 13th running of Zoe’s Race for the Howard Center held its annual end-of-summer event at Oakledge Park in Burlington, helping raise money for families in need of handicapped home renovations.

Erika’s daughter, Zoe, was 18 months old when she had a near-drowning incident that left her paralyzed, and in a wheelchair, nearly 20 years ago. Now after 15 years of raising money, the Nestor’s have raised nearly $300,000 for families in need of home renovations.

Outside of a fundraiser, Zoe’s Race offers donors a 1k, 5k, or 10k walk/run. Oakledge Park comes alive with family fun activities, including a band, Ben & Jerry’s, and grilled corn on the cob.

“It’s unique in that sense of anybody can come and participate, either watching or running or cheerleading,” said Nestor. “I don’t know of any other races where there’s fresh corn on the cob at the end. The food here is ridiculous. And then you can hear the Hokum Brothers in the back. We have a lot of people who come back year after year because it’s just such a fun day.”