On Saturday, August 4th, runners from across the region will gather in Fraser at the starting line of the Winter Park Half Marathon and 5K run, and, running through the woods never felt so good! Benefitting the Shining Stars Foundation, the Fraser Valley provides a great backdrop for the courses.

The Half Marathon Course takes place almost entirely on remote dirt roads. It is a single loop course beginning at approximately 8,700 ft. and traveling above 9,500 ft. Climbs and descents are fairly mellow for a mountain race, but it will still be challenging. The course will have 4 aid stations with water, sports drinks, and fruit. The race is chip timed. 8 am START.

The 5K Course will take place on Grand Park’s trail system. An aid station will be available at the finish line. The race is chip timed. 9 am START.

Not a runner? They still need volunteers to help out, starting at 7 am Saturday morning and finishing around 11:30. Please email Ryndi@ShiningStarsFoundation.org if you are interested in helping out at this fun event!

The Shining Stars Foundation (SSF) was founded in 2001 by Shining Stars CEO Kathy Gingery and a group of experienced volunteers who saw an unmet need in the Rocky Mountains for a program that would provide emotional support to children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The SSF’s mission is to transform lives through year-round recreational and social programs for children and their families challenged with pediatric cancer or another life-threatening illness. They provide programs that help them move past just trying to survive, to thriving and truly living again. The programs not only serve the child, but their entire immediate family, including siblings and parents.

The Shining Stars Foundation is currently one of few nonprofits nationally providing long-term, year-round care for children and their families through recreational programming at any stage in their cancer battle, including treatment, relapse, or remission. All services are provided at no cost to the family.

All of the proceeds from the Winter Park Half Marathon & 5K benefit Shining Stars Foundation. Learn more at shiningstarsfoundation.org.