Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run returns on Saturday in East Shelby
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Two families of friends turned out in full force last October to support the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run at East Shelby Fire Hall. Gary and Karen Barber of Brockport, at left, and Jay and Julie Mersdorf of Webster pose with children Haley Mersdorf, 8; Kennedy Barber, 6; Paxton Barber, 2; Brooks Barber, 4; and Brett Mersdorf. The 31stannual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run is this Saturday.
EAST SHELBY – This Saturday will mark the occasion of the 31st annual Knights-Kaderli 5K race to benefit those living with cancer in Orleans County.
The fundraiser originally started as separate events in memory of two lifelong residents of Orleans County – Richard Knights and Sue Scharping Kaderli.
In 1994, their families merged their memorial funds into the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund. It was the wish of both families that money raised be used to provide financial support to Orleans County cancer patients and their families. Funds have been used to assist families with prescriptions, medical supplies, transportation costs, nutritional supplements and bills.
Since its inception, the fund has assisted about 600 cancer patients and/or their families, and gives out about $60,000 annually to assist families. The 5K walk/run is a big fundraiser for Knights-Kaderli.
Richard Knights grew up in Knowlesville, a son of the late William Knights Jr. and Sarah Marion Cox Knights. He was also a stepson of Mary Balcerzak Knights. He graduated from Medina High School and attended Morrisville and Kent State universities. He was prominent in an extensive farming operation in the town of Ridgeway under the name of Knights Land Company. He was also owner of Knights Real Estate and a partner in Ridge Sand and Gravel and Orleans Trucking.
Richard spent a decade in a policy-making position with the Republican Party in Orleans County and was a longtime member of the Republican Committee in the town of Ridgeway. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Medina, a former member of the Medina Jaycees, an active member of various farm groups and was president of the West Ridgeway Cemetery Association.
Sue Kaderli grew up in Orleans County, a daughter of the late Earl and Viola Clack Scharping. She graduated from Medina High School in 1955 and worked in the Orleans County area most of her life. She spent the last 15 years of her life as a clerk at Main Liquor Store in Medina.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was a dedicated and loving mother to her four children. She is remembered as a very compassionate person, always there to talk with or lend a hand to those in need.
Sue’s family copes with her loss by helping others who are fighting cancer. It is their hope that Sue’s gift of compassion for helping other people will live on through the aid of this fund named in her memory.
The Knights-Kaderli 5K race will take place at East Shelby Fire Hall. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the race starting at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend the event for lunch and to participate in a giant basket raffle.
Minimum registration fee to walk or run in the race is $20 and includes a T-shirt and lunch.
Online registration is available at knightskaderlimemorial5krunwalk.itsyourrace.com/register/.
More information or sponsorship and donation opportunities are available by calling Mary Zelazny at (585) 746-8455; Stacey Knights Pellicano at (716) 998-0977 or Melissa Knights Bertrand at (716) 983-7932.
