submitted by Communications Chair Ron Carter
Calling all North Kitsap runners and families and neighbors.  If your 4th of July plans include a staycation, lace up your sneakers and kick off your holiday with a run for fun…and the community.  There will be a 1k kid dash (adults welcome), a 5k race and a 10k race.  Walk, jog, or run…or all three…folks of all abilities and interests are welcome.  Families have walked together, run together.  Neighbors have done the same.  This is about putting the “fun” in the “run.”
As participants walk, jog, or run, they will do so knowing they are having fun, and giving back to their community.  This year the Fun Run will have greater importance to our community’s youth.  The Kingston-North Kitsap Rotary Club has, for the last nine years, hosted the annual event the morning of the 4th.  The money earned has helped fund a variety of charitable Rotary projects.  Some of the funds have also helped local running activities.  This year a much greater emphasis is being made to support our kids.  The Rotary Club has teamed up with the Kingston High School Athletic Booster Club.  Recently, funds for student school activities have become tighter and tighter.  The student programs including arts, music, and athletics are now more dependent on ASB funds and booster clubs to bridge the gap.  The Kingston High Athletic Booster Club works hard to support our school’s teams, but there are always more needs than funds.  This year, half of the race proceeds will go to the Booster Club to support student activities. 
Our community, students, and their families will have a number of ways to participate in the event.  Some will run.  Others will volunteer.  Others will cheer on the participants.  Students began the partnership early this year, when art students created designs for the Fun Run t-shirts and posters.  Kingston High students Katranna Stamper and Jakob Jones drew the stunning images that are being used this year (see nearby). 
The race will be on the Fourth, with check-in from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m.  Scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.  Runners who pre-register will be insured a race t-shirt.  The starting line is at the medical/fitness center at Barber Cutoff and West Kingston roads.  The race will end at Village Green Park, with refreshments, prizes, and giveaways.  Generous sponsors include 4700 Group, Albertson’s, Isaac Anderson, Beebe Roberts & Bryan, Borrowed Kitchen Bakery, Central Market, Costco, Cup & Muffin, D’Vine Wines, Grub Hut, Imagine Moore, Kingston CPA, Pizza Factory, Poulsbo Running, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Food Market at Kingston, West Side Pizza, Kingston Lumber, Sound Family Health, CHI Franciscan Hospital, Cory Signs, and Domino’s Pizza. 
Pre-register yourself, your family, and your neighbors at www.kingstonrunning.net.  Further information is available at kingston4th5k@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing everyone there.