CALLICOON – When Ann Santoro looks around her each year at the Delaware Youth Center’s River Run, what she sees is the Callicoon community. 

Parked on the intersections of streets that line the start of the race? There are volunteers from the Callicoon Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office. 

Setting up a station near the finish line? There are volunteers from the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps. 

Manning water stations along the race course, handing out race bags and signing up last minute registrants? There are volunteers from around town.

Lining up to join the hundreds of runners who have made the River Run one of the biggest fundraiser the non-profit community center holds each year? There are familiar faces from local restaurants and shops, local residents and long-time supporters of a center that’s provided a space for community kids to swim, swing a bat, meet Santa and more for generations.

“The race is a reflection of what the Youth Center stands for,” Santoro says. “It’s about family, it’s about community, it’s about bringing people together.”

As the coordinator for the River Run, Santoro’s gearing up to celebrate its 25th year on Sunday, July 16, a landmark year for what has become a way to showcase what it is that makes this community so special. 

The start of the race was moved from near the post office to right beside the Democrat’s own offices several years ago, Santoro said, to give runners and walkers a chance to run directly through town before they head down the largely flat River Road that follows the Delaware for both the 5K and 10K versions of the race. 

Runners then repeat the course in reverse, walking back through town after crossing the finish line so they can attend the medal ceremony at the Youth Center. 

“It gives everybody a chance to see our town and our beautiful river,” Santoro explains. “I’ve even had people tell me they saw an eagle while they were running our race!” 

The Youth Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special 25th anniversary tie dye shirt available to the first 400 runners to register and a special raffle of a homemade quilt featuring all 25 River Run shirts, a creation donated by two more members of the community – Kathy Zieres and Betsy McKean. Raffle winners will also have a chance at a host of prizes, including tickets to Legoland in Goshen. 

Meanwhile participants will have the choice between signing up for the 5K run or walk or 10K run to support the center, as well as the option to take part in the Gary A. Winglovitz Virtual Walk or Run if they won’t be in town for the event. 

Registration is going on now at https://delawareyouthcenter.org/register-river-run, and raffle tickets can be purchased at the Delaware Youth Center pool house or from, you guessed it, members of the Callicoon community who have stepped up to help sell them.  

Online registration closes July 14, with the race itself kicking off bright and early on July 16 at 8:15 a.m. for walkers with an 8:30 start to follow for runners. 

Same day registration will be allowed, Santoro says, but runners will not be guaranteed a commemorative t-shirt.