Twin Sizzler sells out with proceeds benefiting Medina County seniors

MEDINA — This year's Twin Sizzler race in Medina sold out with 1,100 people registering to participate in Friday morning's races. Each of the Twin Sizzler races start at the Medina Square, and participants can go on a one-mile fun run, 5K, 10K or a 27-mile bike ride. The event has been going on for 49 years. The Medina County Senior and Adult Foundation hosts the event and is the benefactor of its proceeds. Medina County Senior and Adult Services Director Laura Toth said the Twin Sizzler is the foundation's biggest fundraiser and typically raises between $25,000 and $30,000 for the organization. "With those funds, we do things like provide meals to seniors," she said. "We have supportive services for our home-delivered meal drivers, so the foundation is providing all those kinds of ancillary products that help the home-delivered meal program function." The foundation also puts funding toward activities for seniors in different parts of the county and various capital expenses, Toth said. "If a new piece of equipment is needed, say at the Wadsworth Café, which we operate, they help out there," she said. "They helped buy new pool table furniture for the center here (in Medina)." The most popular program involves giving gift cards to income-qualified seniors around Christmastime, Toth said. Last year, the foundation with the help of another organization provided 349 gift cards, valued at $50, to seniors. "It's great to be able to give them a little extra money to help provide Christmas food or help them make Christmas meals for their families," she said. Toth said the Twin Sizzler is the reason the foundation can do many of its activities. "It has had a large impact on seniors for a long time before us," she said. "(Previously), an organization named Faith in Action got the proceeds from the race, so it has helped seniors for probably well over two decades. It's done a lot for the community and done a lot to help seniors remain in their homes." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.