Folks with a sweet tooth will have an opportunity to satisfy their craving while at the same time raising money to support people with disabilities in Chautauqua County.

For a limited time, the Cold Stone Creamery located within the Tim Hortons on Lake Shore Drive in Dunkirk will be selling a special ice cream in support of the 18th annual Laurel Run. Event namesake Laurel Hotelling got to choose the ice cream concoction, and she came up with a combination sure to please many people – chocolate ice cream with brownies, M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups mixed in.

The special treat is called “Laurel’s Favorite” and will be sold from Monday through Sunday. All proceeds from the sale of the ice cream will go toward Laurel Run.

The 18th annual Laurel Run will be held July 18-19. The event was created by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling of Silver Creek in honor of their oldest daughter, who has Down syndrome. Laurel Run was established to raise public awareness about the potential existing within everyone who has a disability.

The first day of Laurel Run consists of the traditional Jamestown-to-Dunkirk flag relay, with volunteers running the legs of the relay. The following day in Silver Creek, featured activities include an 8-kilometer run, a 5k fitness walk, a 1k fun walk, children’s runs, and “Laurel’s Lap,” in which anyone with a disability is invited to take a lap around the track surrounding the village ball field. All morning there will be a party in the village square featuring free food, live music and activities for adults and children. In the afternoon there will be a motorcycle dice run.

Money raised through Laurel Run is directed to Filling the Gap, Inc., which works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities in Chautauqua County. Laurel Run proceeds are used in two ways to pay for disability awareness and prevention initiatives in Chautauqua County and to enhance employment and work training opportunities for people with disabilities.

For information about Laurel Run, call the Hotellings at 934-3952 or visit www.laurel-run.com.