Skip to main content

South Valley Riverton Journal

Heroes to the rescue at Riverton’s annual 5K

Dec 03, 2018 01:22PM ● By Travis Barton

Kids of all ages were greeted at the finish line by Santa during the Holiday Heroes 5K and 1-mile Fun Run. (Photo/Jenny Jones)

By Jenny Jones and Travis Barton | [email protected]

For a decade, Riverton City officials and the Unified Police Department have held a holiday fundraiser for families in need. This year was no different. 

Participants in Riverton’s annual Holiday Heroes 5K and 1-mile ‘Fun’draiser Run, held Nov. 7, were asked to donate non-perishable food or monetary donations the day of the race. All proceeds and donations benefit local families in need. 

Ronda Poole runs every year in the 5K wearing a turkey costume. 

“One of the great things they do (is) a food drive, and its awesome for these families out here,” she said. 

Event organizers begin collecting food during the fun run and continue up until Thanksgiving to deliver family dinners to those in need. 

UPD delivers the food, “making sure that families that wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving dinner, get a Thanksgiving dinner,” said Poole. 

Benski Dayley, Riverton’s recreation coordinator who organizes the event, said local schools also do fundraisers to contribute to the cause. In total, they typically raise a couple thousand dollars each year, he said. 

On sunny yet chilly morning, participants ran around Riverton City Park and the surrounding neighborhood to find Santa waiting for them at the finish line. 

Brad Barton was the male winner for the 5K at 18:00, while the Rene Jackson was the female winner with a time of 27:02. 

“The races are fun—the starting atmosphere with the music and everything,” Dayley said. “Today's kind of fun, even though it's a little early for some people and the holidays, but we still got Santa and the turkey and Christmas music to kind of get you in the holiday spirit.”