La Palma’s 38th Annual Fitness Run for Fun this year was a wonderful opportunity for families to start their Fourth of July celebrations by running the 5K or 10K, walking the 5K, or running in the Yankee Doodle Dash for ages 2 to 12. Families could also play together in the Family Fun Zone and do games, crafts and an inflatable activity. After all these activities, they could purchase a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast. Coffee, orange juice, plates, utensils, butter and syrup were provided by McDonald’s of La Palma.
The La Palma Community Services Department started preparations for the Run for Fun months in advance of the Fourth of July with registrations and publicity. Starting at 4:00 a.m. on the morning of the actual day of the Run for Fun, La Palma’s Community Services Department and the La Palma Police Department did an outstanding job of preparing a safe course for runners.
In addition to the La Palma Recreation Department and the Police Department, it took the help of the whole community of La Palma to have a successful Fitness Run for Fun. There were businesses that generously supported the Run for Fun financially, including Gold Sponsor EDCO-Park Disposal and Silver Sponsors Rutan & Tucker. Other sponsors who donated refreshments for the runners were Melissa’s Produce with oranges and bananas, Walmart Neighborhood Market with water, and the La Palma Police Department with frozen fruit bars.
Lori Whalen, La Palma’s Recreation Coordinator, said that 432 runners registered for the Fitness Run for Fun. She thanked all the volunteers who came and helped at the tables for registration, t-shirts, water stations, walk spotters, refreshments and finishing shute aides. Volunteers were rewarded with a new commemorative blue t-shirt and a free pancake and sausage breakfast paid for by the city of La Palma Recreation Department.
The pancake breakfast was prepared by the Kiwanis Club of La Palma and the Key Clubs of Kennedy High School and Whitney High School. Diners sat at the benches and tables next the La Palma Community Center and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast under the shade of trees.
The Kiwanis Club of La Palma is very experienced in preparing for community events. They prepared perfect pancakes and tasty sausages and began serving at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds from the pancake breakfast fundraiser will be designated for scholarships and other community service projects. They have cooked and served hamburgers and hot dogs for community events and also for Kennedy High School students and some of La Palma’s elementary school students.
The Kiwanis Club of La Palma usually meets each week on Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. in the Doctors’ Lounge in the La Palma Intercommunity Hospital on 7901 Walker Street in La Palma. However, they meet on the fourth Thursday of the month in the evening at 7 p.m. Persons who wish to join the Kiwanis club and become active in community service in La Palma can contact President Ismile Noorbaksh at 714-488-8072.