Flutopia is back for its fifth year and it will be the most musical 5K in the area. Musicians will perform for runners and walkers as they follow a beautiful route that passes through the butterfly garden, past the dog park and community garden in Tudek Park.
Trombones, a flute choir, a fiddler, a jazz combo and other instruments have serenaded runners/walkers in the past years. “The Flight of the Bumblebee” will be the starting musical piece when the runners take off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Cathy Herrera started The Flutopia Initiative with the intent of supporting Center Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) and Doctors Without Borders. At the same time, she wished to give local musicians exposure.
Sue Forster, development coordinator for CVIM said in an email, “In the past four years, the event has raised over $6,200 for CVIM. Community events such as the Flutopia 5K are very important to CVIM, not only for the money they raise, but also getting the word out that CVIM is here to help the uninsured in our community.”
CVIM provides free medical and dental care to low-income adults. Many of the clients are working, but unable to afford any insurance. This race provides a wonderful way for family fun while contributing to two great causes — CVIM and Doctors Without Borders.
There will be six performance sites and a water station that runners/walkers will pass twice along the route.
Dr. Cathy Collinge Herrera, a flute player from Juniata College Department of Music shared some background about the Flutopia in an email.
“In 2012, I had several good friends travel to underdeveloped countries to assist with medical mission work, something I greatly admired,” said Herrera. “While driving to Juniata College to teach my flute students one day, during that beautiful commute from State College, the realization that I could raise funds for those in need with my flute playing was born after much pondering and prayer. The Flutopia Initiative (flutists inspiring musicians to change the world, one concert at a time) was the name for the project that came to mind,”
The first Flutopia Initiative event was held in December 2012, at Robert M. Sides Family Music Center, according to Dr. Herrera. She said family friend Nicole Solano was able to make her logo idea come to life and a jazz composer friend David Morris produced the signature event piece titled, “Play it Forward.” That first effort benefited the food bank and was a happy success, Herrera said.
Herrera next reached out to the Nittany Valley Running Club for its feedback regarding the creation of a fundraising race that would feature musicians performing around a 5K-race route.
“I decided that The Flutopia 5K (your most musical 5K in town) could be another way to support medical needs, locally for Centre Volunteers in Medicine and globally for Doctors Without Borders,” said Herrera. “The idea was especially dear to my heart, as it also serves as a personal tribute to my music loving mother, and my father who was a track and cross country coach.”
Registration is available online or on race day from 7:30 to 8 a.m. at Tudek Park pavilion, next to the tennis courts. Cost is $25 for adult and $10 for children under 10.
The children’s race is a 50-yard dash called the Flutastic Fun Run for kids under ten. That race will run to the trumpet fanfare, which will spur the children to stretch their strides.
