The Mat-Su Family Fun Run was held for the very first time on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Colony High School Trail System.  Over 400 runners, joggers, and walkers from families all over the Valley turned out to enjoy this new event.

Organizers Christa Hayes and Lynda Barcome would like to thank all the folks that made the Family Fun Run such a success.

Thank you to all the families who came out to walk/jog/run and supported our efforts in getting kids to be more active; the wonderful group of Cottonwood Creek parents that organized registration and distribution of the race bibs; all the parents and teachers that helped out as trail guards, or helped supervise the start and finish lines; and Colony High ROTC cadets that led each group of kids through the trail system and also followed behind to make sure all kids returned safely to the finish line. We’d also like to thank Mike Boyd, Colony High athletic director, who allowed us to use CHS facility and equipment; Karl Schleich, Shaw Elementary principal, who was our dynamite announcer and keeper of the clock; Chris VanCleave, MSBSD nurse, who looked after any and all injuries; and any and all Mat-Su Borough School District physical educators and staff that encouraged their students to come out and participate.

Thanks to Healthy Futures for sponsoring the race bibs, elementary medals and traveling participation trophy; and Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, Three Bears and Carrs for providing bottled water and fruit for the participants,

A special thanks to DeeDee Jonrowe for serving as our celebrity starter and such an inspiration for our students to emulate when it comes to staying active and healthy.

Congratulations to Fronteras Charter School for winning the very first traveling trophy for the highest rate of participation of any MSBSD campus.

If you did not get to join us this year, we sure hope to see you and your entire family next September when we plan to do it again.

Lynda Barcome

Physical education specialist

Cottonwood Creek Elementary