What a day! Valley Friendship Tour 2017

The Blackstone Valley XPress
June 2017

“A perfect day for running, walking,” could be heard all morning during Saturday’s Annual Valley Friendship Tour at Alternatives in Whitinsville. The event was the 32nd year for the tour in Alternative’s 40 years as a leader in the care and wellbeing of more than 2000 local people with psychiatric or developmental disabilities. The Friendship Tour is the major fundraiser for the organization and has raised $225,000 to date, looking to achieve its goal for $300,000 by month’s end.

Sponsored by at least 50 local individuals, companies and organizations, the event was well attended and a rousing success. Happy smiles and upbeat music, complements of the Marshall Morris Band, was the order of the day. No less than five different raffles, including items like sports tickets, foot massage, gift certificates and a beautiful bench repurposed from an antique bed.

To end the event, cyclers, runners, walkers and their supporters gathered under flags and canopies for lots of food, drinks, music and even a little dancing at the 50 Douglas Street plaza housing Alternative’s main offices and art gallery.

——Magda Dakin