Submitted Photo This winning Laurel Run logo design from 2017 was created by Sean Marchant of Silver Creek High School.

Area high school students can put their artistic talents to use by participating in the 2018 Laurel Run logo contest. The person who designs the winning entry will receive a $100 gift card to a store of his or her choosing.

Laurel Run was started in 1997 by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling of Silver Creek. The annual event is named in honor of their oldest daughter, Laurel. Laurel, who died this past fall, had Down syndrome, and Laurel Run seeks to raise awareness and appreciation about the achievements of people with disabilities. The Hotellings have dedicated Laurel Run to Laurel and to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive supports from The Resource Center. Money raised through Laurel Run goes to Filling the Gap, Inc., which works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and their families in Chautauqua County.

The Laurel Run logo contest is open to high school students in Chautauqua County. Design entries should not be too intricate nor use more than three colors. Artists also are encouraged to submit original designs, rather than using artwork they find on the Internet or through other sources.

Designs must be received by Monday, April 23. Internal voting at The Resource Center and Filling the Gap will identify the finalists. Again this year, the OBSERVER will allow the public to cast votes for the winner through the newspaper’s web site.

Designs should be submitted to: Laurel Run Logo Contest, c/o Filling the Gap, 92 Fairmount Avenue, Jamestown, NY, 14701. Designs also may be submitted electronically to kayla.bohall@resourcecenter.org. All entries become the property of Filling the Gap.

The 22nd annual Laurel Run will take place July 20 and 21. The traditional Jamestown-to-Dunkirk relay run will take place Friday, July 20. The following morning, the action shifts to Silver Creek and features an 8-kilometer running race, a 5k walk, a 1k fun walk, children’s runs, “Laurel’s Lap” (for anyone with a disability), and a party in the village square.

For more information about the logo contest, phone 661-4735. For information about Laurel Run, visit www.laurel-run.com.