Run the Race...Stop the Stigma!  

Summer Smith was a loving mother of three boys who lost her 12-year battle with addiction on January 9th, 2015.   Summer's mom Kristin has established this race in her memory. Summer desired to live a life in recovery and fought hard to overcome the disease of addiction. 

The 9th Annual Summer Smith 5k Addiction Awareness Memorial Run is an event that will be held on May 3rd, 2025, at Guilderland High School in Guilderland, New York. Start time of the 5k will be 10 am. Both runners and walkers are welcome. This is a children friendly/ dog friendly event. The race will be preceded by a Memory Ceremony at 9:00 am.  Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Addiction Care Center of Albany to promote education and prevention, the Schenectady YWCA to help women in recovery who have been impacted by the disease of addiction with housing needs and Friends of Recovery Albany to assist in creating a culture of support for those who struggle with addiction and to provide the hope of recovery. Additionally, proceeds are used to support a $750 Scholarship in Summer's Memory given to a selected Senior at Guilderland High School who is planning to attend college and major in a career in human or health services and the Dawn Viti Memorial Rescue Dog $ 1000 Donation to help a dog with special needs.

Our goal for the Summer Smith 5k Addiction Awareness Memorial Run is to bring attention to the current epidemic of the disease of addiction that is sweeping the country and killing our children. We wish to reduce the stigma associated with this disease and to provide education and awareness regarding addiction while sharing the hope of recovery. If one person is saved, or one conversation is started between a parent and a child, then our goal will have been reached. We look forward to seeing you there!