The Aragon Red Cross (ARC) Third Annual Fun Run was held at Seal Point Park on April 19. This year, approximately 50 runners were in attendance. They raised $1,300 in total from participants and sponsors. Donations from participants went directly to the Red Cross and sponsor dollars paid for the event.
At this year’s event, runners were given an option to run a 5K or 10K trail around Seal Point Park, ending with a finish line at Ryder Park where runners were then given free pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and beverages. “It’s a 5K along the water so it’s really nice,” says ARC co-president Netta Wang. From the route, runners had a view of the bay as well as the San Mateo Bridge.
Forty-five Volunteers arrived at 8:30 a.m. to tour the route and organize all events. Runners this year included Aragon students, high school students from other San Mateo Union High School District schools, parents, teachers, and alumni. By 10:30 a.m., the Fun Run already had their two victors. First place with a time of 21:06 was junior Alexander Medwid and second place was held by freshman Jason Leung with a time of 21:08.
Volunteers directed runners at stations along the route, coordinated food, and worked water stations. During lunch, raffle prizes ranging from a Red Cross Swag Bag—containing a first aid kit, stress ball, glasses, and more—to basketballs were raffled away. The ARC also organized an Easter egg hunt as another activity in addition to running.
This year, the Fun Run was organized by a commission of 15 ARC students. Junior Brian Yee, a member of this commission, says, “[Planning] was mostly online. We met up about once a week. It was mostly online on a website called Trello.”
Co-President and junior Vivian Shen says, “[Planning] took a while, that’s for sure. It was fun at some parts, not fun at others. It took us at least two to three months to get all this planned.”
The ARC members ordered stress balls and pens to give out to people prior to the Fun Run in order to advertise. Fellow Red Cross Bay Area Chapter member and Burlingame High School student Sam Shih states, “It was very well organized. The advertisement was really good, everyone knew.”
Asked why he participated, Shih said, “One of our principles is unity, in our seven core principles, and it’s our duty and responsibility to help other clubs and show our support.”
Last year’s Fun Run was held at Coyote Point. The change in location, according to chief event coordinator Brandon Yan, did not change the cost, but instead provided a different route.
San Mateo County Disaster Services Chair Betty Fleming comments on the event, saying, “I think they’ve done a very good job. Every year it’s been better and better. I was impressed the first year and continue to be impressed.”
“I feel the Fun Run provides a fun outlet for people to hang out on the weekend and just exercise. But in the end what’s really happening is it’s a charity run and we receive a lot of donations from everyone that comes,” concludes Shen.
