CHAFFEE CROSSING (KFSM) — Racers will be walking, running and riding through Chaffee Crossing this weekend as the 8th annual True Grit event kicks off.
The event includes a True Grit 5K on Friday and the True Grit Ride on Saturday. Both events take place starting in the Chaffee Crossing Historic District.
The 5K race takes place Friday (June 21) starting at 6:30 p.m. at 7313 Terry Street in Chaffee.
Cyclists can take place in the True Grit Ride starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday. The Ride features races of 10, 30, 45, 62 and 105 miles.
"I`m going to ride with my kids and probably do 30 or 45 miles, just do it for a fun event with them. It`s something to get them out. They are young, 11 and 12 years old and it challenges them to. I mean it`s crazy to ride that far at that young of an age," Eugene Kersh said.
As of Thursday(June 20), more than 500 participants are signed up for the ride and 5K which is more people than last year.
"I just love seeing it growing and growing, just more people being active, getting outside. It`s really a lifestyle change to say I want to do something like this and do it consecutively," Kersh said.
The race benefits the Community Services Clearing House's Backpack Program that serves around 2,400 kids a week during the school year. Director of Operations, Tami Kuhns said last year the True Grit event brought in $43,000 for the program.
"One out of every five children do not know where their next meal is coming from and so it hurts their education and they lose about 40 percent of their education when they go without eating over the weekend. It takes usually Monday and Tuesday, breakfast and lunch to get back to that," she said.
Participants in the True Grit events who have preregistered online will get timing chips and free event t-shirts, a free goodie bag with a surprise gift and free barbecue, tea and up to two beers at the kick-off party and packet pickup on Friday from 4-7 p.m. Those who didn't register online can register on Friday from 4-6 p.m. Packet pickup for the Ride will be from 6-6:30 a.m. on Saturday, as well at the event location on Terry Street.
Discounts are available to those who sign up for both the 5K and the Bike Ride.
More information on the races is available on the 5K Facebook page and the Ride Facebook page.
5NEWS is a proud sponsor of this event.