NORTHAMPTON — This Sunday Look Park will host a Wild Goose Chase, and the end result of the event will be much more attainable than the name suggests.
The event is a fundraiser for Whole Children, a nonprofit in Hadley that provides after-school programming to children, particularly children with special needs.
Valle Dwight, communications director and a parent at the center, said Whole Children hopes to raise $40,000 on Sunday — an increase from last year’s $30,000.
The third annual event, which begins at 10 a.m., features carnival games, face-painting, yo-yo by A2Z Science and Learning Store, a horse-drawn wagon, food trucks and the Expandable Brass Band. The event drew a crowd of 400 last year.
It also features races for people of varying abilities.
“It’s really open to all ages and abilities,” Dwight said. “We have wheelchairs, we’ve got walkers and we’ve got runners.”
Registration for the adult races costs $30, $20 for kids and registration for those in wheelchairs costs $10. Dwight said families of three can also register for a flat $60. Registration starts at 9 a.m.
Whole Children serves about 800 children a year, Dwight said. The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the organization, which needs to raise about $140,000 every year in order to keep the teacher-to-student ratio low and classes affordable for families with children who have high needs.
“It’s such a unique place and it’s just really important that we have it,” Dwight said of Whole Children. “I’m just passionate about making sure it’s here for the long run.”
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.