SARANAC LAKE — Registration for ADK Unite, an annual running, walking and bicycling event that raises funds for community food pantries, opened on Monday.

Since 2020, the virtual event has generated over $27,000 for food banks throughout the Adirondacks.

The event, which was started in 2020 by Bike Adirondacks, LAKEfm and Adirondack 105, is designed to help people get active while generating much needed operating funds for local food pantries.

Participants will run, walk, bike or hike and track their miles digitally through the event website to compete for prizes with every single dollar generated going directly to the cause. In 2023, 152 participants moved a total of 26,890 miles to raise $6,500 for community food pantries.

“ADK Unite is designed to provide a fun, interactive and positively competitive way for people to get active while supporting our communities,” said Doug Haney, founder of Bike Adirondacks. “Whether you participate as an individual or as a team, we have a category that suits what you and your crew like to do outside.”

Businesses and organizations have used the event to have fun in mud season and motivate themselves to get active. For the past few years, Bionique Testing Laboratories in Saranac Lake has entered its entire staff of approximately 50 people into the event and will continue its participation this year.

“We believe in supporting community well-being through the power of staying active while benefiting local food banks. Together, we can make a meaningful impact, one step at a time,” said Gladis Zamparo, CEO of Bionique Testing Laboratories.

Registration is $35 for adults and $25 for children. Team registration is $150 for groups of three to five participants. Prizes will be awarded to the people and teams in each category who clock the most miles during the month of May.

Information and registration can be found at bikeadirondacks.com.

Food pantries being supported include:

¯ Lake Placid Ecumenical Food Pantry

¯ Saranac Lake Interfaith Food Pantry

¯ Tupper Lake Community Food Pantry

¯ Waverly Food Pantry (St. Regis Falls)

¯ JCEO-Black Brook

¯ Jay Town Hall (Ausable Forks)

¯ Wilmington Ecumenical Food Pantry

¯ Clifton-Fine Community Food Pantry (Cranberry Lake)

¯ St. Paul’s Food Panty (serving Vermontville, St. Armand and Brighton)

¯ Keene Food Pantry

Those who would like to add another food pantry as a beneficiary can contact Doug Haney at doug@bikeadk.com.