BHS Opens Registration for Annual Fourth of July 5K Race

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Registration has begun for the highly popular annual Berkshire Health Systems 4^th of July 5K Race, held just prior to the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade.

In 2025 over 1,300 runners participated in the 5K, which runs along the parade route in downtown Pittsfield.

Registration is $35 for adult runners who register prior to July 1, and $40 for adult  registration on July 2 or 3. Online registration is open and can be completed by visiting www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/bhs5k. As with the 2025 BHS 5K, children in Berkshire County schools from K-12 can register and race for free through June 30. In 2025, over 370 children ran in the 5K, at no charge.

Berkshire Health Systems thanks our many race sponsors, who are covering the cost of children’s registration, including: Ashley Associates, LLC; B and G Restaurant Supply; Barile Environmental Inc.; BBE Office Interiors; Berkshire Community College; Greylock Federal Credit Union; Guardian Life; Hillcrest Educational Centers; Hill-Engineers, Architects, Planners, Inc.; J.H. Maxymillian, Inc.; John’s Excavation; Lipton Energy; MacFarlane Office Products, Inc.; Moresi and Associates and Shields Health.

The BHS Fourth of July 5K Race starts at 9 am sharp on the July, 4, ending at Wahconah Park.

Striking Out Cancer in Berkshires Holds Sunday Party Before June 27 Games

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
10:53AM / Monday, June 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Striking out Cancer in the Berkshires has been bringing smiles for half a decade.

 

This year, it also is bringing Smiley.

 

A day of community baseball and softball games that act as a fund-raiser for the Jimmy Fund is the brainchild of Joe DiCicco, who has expanded the event’s footprint over the years and seen a steady growth in money raised as a result.

 

This year’s games are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on June 27 on Buddy Pellerin Field at Clapp Park.

 

But the festivities begin this Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Sideline Saloon on Fenn Street, where DiCicco invites families to come down, free of charge, to take photos with a Boston Red Sox World Series Trophy and meet Boston mascot Wally the Green Monster and Smiley, the mascot of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox.

 

“It’s just a little way to give back to the community to start the week,” DiCicco said. “Last year, we had the trophy for the first time, and they want to bring it back, so that’s a good thing. Wally is different, and so is Smiley.”

 

What has not changed is DiCicco’s dedication to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund, inspired by Einar Gustafson, a child who beat cancer with the help of Dr. Sidney Farber in 1948 and shared his story with the world under the name Jimmy to protect his anonymity.