Deer Park Town Center will be holding a 5K and 10K race open to all ages on Saturday, March 14. The 5K will be partnering with WINGS, a resale store and charity that aids homeless and abused women and children, according to Colin Pekovitch, event manager.

“This is our fifth year for the race and the fourth year it’ll be in Deer Park. [The race] got started as a way to bring the local community together for a healthy fitness activity as well as to raise awareness and raise funds for our charity partner,” Pekovitch said.

LZHS Interact members will also be volunteering at this event from 7 – 10 AM. Kiersten McDevitt, sophomore, is excited about volunteering at the race after she raced in it two years ago.

“I ran the St. Paddys Day 5K when I was in eighth grade because of my friends and I thought it would be fun. I [won] first for my age group,” McDevitt said. “This year I am volunteering because I enjoy cheering on the other runners; just being at the race is a fun experience.”

Like McDevitt, Pekovitch himself will be at the event, making sure that everything runs smoothly. His goal is to raise more money for the race’s charity partners.

“We also have a lot of great local sponsors that will be at the  event this year creating an overall better experience for all of the participants, volunteers, and spectators,” Pekovitch said.

The 5K course was improved by moving the start and finish line to California Pizza Kitchen, which will be open right after the event, according to Pekovitch. Other changes include a 10K addition.

“We also took out a large portion of the course that ran through the parking lots of the Deer Park Town Center. To make up for that distance lost, the participants will now be running on more paved trails surrounding the area,” Pekovitch said. “This will make for a more pleasant and safe run for the participants.”