Independent Health and Canisius College are proud to present the 15th annual Shoes For The Shelter 5K Run to be held Sunday, April 14, 2013, at 10 a.m. at a new course in downtown Buffalo, N.Y. Registration for the event will take place at the Canisius College Patrick Lee Center, located next to the Koessler Athletic Center at the corner of Main and Delavan, from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Entry fee for adults is $20 pre-registration and $25 day-of-race, while the entry fee for children (14 and under), Canisius College students and Independent Health employees is $14 pre-registration and $17 day-of-race. The entry fee for Canisius College faculty and staff is $17 pre-registration and $25 day-of-race.

A complimentary Dri-Fit T-shirt will be given to the first 500 registered participants and all runners are encouraged to turn in a pair of sneakers or shoes for the St. Vincent de Paul shelter on race day. Since 2001, 20,797 pairs of shoes have been collected, including 3,996 pairs of shoes in 2012.

For information on pre-registration, contact John Maddock in the Canisius College Athletic Department at 716-888-2977 or e-mail him at maddock@canisius.edu. Interested participants also can register online on GoGriffs.com by clicking on the link on the web page. Race packets can be picked up on Friday, April 12 (3-6 p.m.) and Saturday, April 13 (12-4 p.m.) in the Koessler Athletic Center and after 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race in the Patrick Lee Center.

Also participating as sponsors are AJ Flood, Chartwells, Hyatt Regency Buffalo, Hart Hotels, Sahlens, Rich Products, Upstate Farms Cooperative, Tim Hortons, Medco and Pepsi.

A runner's mass will take place starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Patrick Lee Center leading up to the start of the race at 10 a.m.  Awards will be given to the first-place male and female finishers overall and for the top three finishers in all age categories.  Age categories are as follows: 10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 & older. Over 80, 85 and 90 age groups will be added as needed. There will also be special awards for the top finishers of Independent Health employees and Canisius College employees, students and alumni.

A post-race party, featuring an authentic 60's rock 'n roll band, The Keepers, will be held beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Patrick Lee Center with food and refreshments, while the awards ceremony is scheduled for 11:15 a.m.