FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Police in Modesto will be running for a cause.
On September 22, 2018, Shackleford Elementary School in Modesto will host the first 10K With A Cop Mile Run.
10K With a Cop is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help build a relationship between law enforcement and the community, teach kids the importance of goal setting and self-discipline, and increase health and wellness through physical activity.”
Police officers volunteer their time to run with kids in area elementary schools with established running programs.
10K With A Cop provides incentives like wristbands and t-shirts to help kids reach their running goals.
By the end of the school year, the kids will have the opportunity to run a 10K (6.2 miles) with the officers.
The 10K With A Cop was started in Los Angeles by another non-profit organization, Run to Remember Los Angeles.
Race Director and 10K With A Cop Founder Mark Kirunchyk (above) had a vision. “There are at-risk kids all over the country. If we can get them to believe in themselves – to set goals and achieve them – we can impact their lives. By partnering police officers who know about goals and fitness to mentor these children, we can prevent walls between the community and law enforcement from ever being built. These officers are human. They are parents too. They want to see every child succeed.”
Detective Sean Dodge of Modesto PD (above) spearheaded the 10K With a Cop NorCal Chapter. He is well-known for his running in uniform at races throughout the country. He has also been running at Modesto area elementary schools in uniform with their run programs for years, and actively recruited Stanislaus County area officers and schools to get involved with the program.
The 2018 school year kicked off the inaugural year for the NorCal Chapter.
The one-mile run starts at 8:00a.m. Saturday, at Shackleford Elementary School located at 100 School Avenue.
This event is expected to include 100 runners but is not open to the public to participate as this is a run just for the kids and cops.
It is the first goal set for the children, and after completion, they will get a new wristband to mark their accomplishment.
The run is part of the training to prepare them for the 10K in May of 2019.
More information: www.10kwithacop.org
