Take A Stroll For Charity At The Matthews Walk-A-Thon
It's that time of year again. The annual Matthews Auto Walk-A-Thon is Saturday, October 4th (2025). It's the 7th year of this important event and is open to the public.
The Walk-A-Thon benefits 13 kids' charities in Binghamton, Syracuse, Rochester, Norwich, Schenectady, and Scranton. The Binghamton area walk will be on the Rail Trail in Vestal from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., rain or shine, starting at the Coal House on Stage Road.
The Norwich Walk will again take place at Weiler Park, located just off Route 12 in Norwich, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature a food truck, games for the kids, and a petting zoo.
Read More: Become A Local Election Inspector
Another option for walkers is to register and walk virtually from their hometowns. Visit the Matthews Walk-A-Thon website for details.
Charities in Each City Benefiting From The Walk-A-Thon
The list of charitable beneficiaries in each city:
- Binghamton - Mom’s House, A Room to Heal, Handicapped Children’s Association, Guthrie Hospice Vestal’s Camp Hope for Kids, The Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference, and GiGi’s Playhouse
- Syracuse - Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, ED23 and Joseph’s House
- Norwich - Chenango County Child Advocacy Center
- Rochester – Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester
- Schenectady - Things Of My Very Own
- Scranton - St. Joseph's Center
Get together with your families, friends, co-workers, or solo if you wish to walk at the location nearest to you or virtually, as many or as few miles as you wish.
Matthews Auto will donate $10 per mile for every mile walked by registered participants, on October 4th, 2025, to the charity or charities of the walker’s choosing (up to $75,000), plus Matthews will match cash donations up to $12,500, plus corporate sponsors - Cox Automotive, Nissan, and Zurich bringing the maximum possible donation to $150,000. 100% of the proceeds will be donated.
Walkers will be on the honor system to walk the actual miles registered for. Over 2000 walkers participated last year, and more are anticipated to walk this year.
Walkers should register in advance through the Matthews Walk-A-Thon website with the estimated miles to be walked.
Broome County walkers can register at the Vestal Rail Trail, and Chenango County walkers at Weiler Park can register on the day of the event. Walk-A-Thon t-shirts will be given as a thank you for registering, while supplies last, at the Rail Trail in Vestal, on the day of the event.
For more information, visit the Matthews Walk-A-Thon website.