Chester Fun Run draws more than 400
Over 400 participants turned out for the Almanor Recreation and Park District’s 41st annual Chester 4th of July Fun Run on Monday, July 4. Runners and walkers from infants to octogenarians gathered on the Collins Pine lawn and proceeded one mile down Chester’s historic Main Street to the finish at the Bidwell House.
While this year’s Fun Run was not an individually-timed event, Tyler Eakin of Chester finished first with 4:59 showing on the finish line clock. Within 20 minutes, most of the participants had crossed the finish line and gathered to enjoy refreshments and celebrate a great start to Independence Day.
Many people wore their blue 2022 Fun Run T-shirts which featured artwork designed by Chloe Clark, a Chester 4th grader whose drawing was selected from more than 50 entries submitted by students from Chester Elementary School. Chloe’s winning entry featured colorful fire and police vehicles to commemorate the first responders in last year’s Dixie Fire who were honored as “Heroes Among Us” in the Chester 4th of July Parade.
Other participants donned costumes such as the five bananas who were being chased by a gorilla, while others sported stars, stripes and 4th of July colors. Multi-generational families ran and walked together, some pushing strollers or carrying infants in backpacks. Of course, many canine companions also took part in the mile-long event.
The Fun Run was supported by 18 local sponsors and 20 dedicated volunteers who helped make the event possible. The 4th of July Fun Run is ARPD’s largest fundraising event and all proceeds benefit District programs and events, as well as capital improvement projects, with an emphasis on recreation, parks and trails. For more information about the Almanor Recreation and Park District, visit www.yourarpd.org or call (530) 258-2562.
Here are a few scenes from the Fun Run.
