The Chocolate Chronicles

Team Spotlight: Edwards Church — Walking in Faith, Running with Purpose

For longtime members Floyd Cheung and Ruth Griggs, the Hot Chocolate Run isn’t just an annual event—it’s a meaningful expression of their church’s mission. “There are many ways to worship,” Floyd reflects, “and walking or running in the Hot Chocolate Run can be part of that worship.”

The Edwards Church team has been part of the event for over a decade, and their commitment runs deep. When the team first realized the run would always fall on a Sunday, the church made a bold decision: move their Sunday service to Saturday. “We turned a potential conflict into something good,” Floyd explains. “That Saturday has become a little Advent party,” Ruth adds. “And the event is now on our church sign—it’s just part of who we are.”

What makes Team Edwards Church truly unique is how seamlessly the Run aligns with their values. “You are part of our mission,” Ruth says simply. “I cannot underestimate the importance of that. The work Safe Passage does is part of what we strive to support—being instruments of love and justice.”

 

Participation looks different for everyone—some run, some walk, some cheer from the church steps—but the sense of connection remains. “There’s no one way to participate,” Floyd says. “We might not all see each other during the event, but we feel a connection anyway.”

For Ruth, the joy of the day is in the community it brings together. “I meet friends at my house, we walk to the starting line, and we have brunch afterward. Some join the church team, some don’t, and that’s fine. However people want to participate—that flexibility is really important.”

When it comes to fundraising, they both credit the tools provided by Safe Passage, especially the email and Facebook templates. “It’s pretty magical,” Floyd says. “I set up my page, and voila—$10, $25, $50 comes in. It works.” Ruth adds, “I send out two or three emails, and often get more donations after I’ve already thanked people. The scripts make it so easy—I just personalize them.”

 

Their memories of the Run are filled with warmth, music, and a little silliness. Ruth lights up when she talks about the year the Expandable Brass Band played outside their sanctuary window during a prayer. “It was a sermon in and of itself,” she laughs. “This is Northampton. We can pray and have a brass band at the same time. It was just beautiful harmony.”

Floyd shares a more personal reflection: “I’ve loved watching my son grow up running with me. Lately he prefers to run with his friends, so I’ve been walking with my mom and my wife instead. It’s a family thing. And eventually, we always meet up with others on the church steps.”

For Ruth and Floyd, the Hot Chocolate Run is more than a fundraiser. It’s an embodiment of their values—a joyful, inclusive tradition that brings together friends, family, and community in a shared expression of love and justice.

Check out their page here: Team Edwards Church