Boys Run I
Dear Editor: Sitkans Against Family Violence would like to thank everyone who supported the third season of Boys Run I toowú klatseen this year. Thanks to the community’s support, our 2016 season, which reached about 30 boys in Sitka, was a great success!
The season would not have been possible without our wonderful community partners. A special thank you to Sitka School District’s 21st Century Learning Program at Keet Gooshi Heen, “GLO,” their staff, and the school staff at Keet. Thank you also to our sponsors Sitka Rose Gallery, Precision Boatworks, Work and Rugged Gear Store, White’s Inc., Ludvig’s Bistro, Sitka Vision Clinic, Horan and Co., ALPS Federal Credit Union, Hames Corporation and the Daily Sitka Sentinel.
Many of our participants receive scholarships to be a part of Boys Run, and we are very grateful for the organizations and individuals who help support this positive program for Sitka youths. We would also like to thank our fantastic coaches who volunteered their time to support this program: Chuck Miller, Will Conlon, Grace Heidel, Steve Hutchinson, Michael Mausbach, Wes Holloway, Graeme Campbell, Tina Bachmeier and Amanda Capitummino.
The recent 5K Community Fun Run on Dec. 10 was the final celebratory event for our amazing participants, boys in third-fifth grades who have been learning healthy lifestyle skills, celebrating inner strength, and training over the past 12 weeks.
We had many family members, friends, and community members come out to cheer them on and help them each achieve their 5K goal. It would not have been possible without the work of all the wonderful volunteers who helped with course set-up, added to the celebration through activities like face painting, ran as personal supporters with the participants, and were great cheerleaders! Thank you to everyone who contributed time and energy to make this event such a success. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Again, thank you to everyone who helped bring such joy and celebration to the community of Sitka through Boys Run I toowú klatseen and the 5K. Gunalchéesh!
Lauren Havens
Boys Run I toowú klatseen
Coordinator, SAFV
