Community warms up for fifth annual Peckler Relay
If it's October, it must be time for the Peckler Memorial Run & Relay, an annual community fundraiser now in its fifth successful year. The event, which takes place Oct. 7, honors the memories of Los Gatan Jim Peckler and two of his four children, Jill and Jeff. The Pecklers died in January 1997 when a drunk driver collided with their car on the way to Lake Tahoe.
The run and relay also raises funds for local nonprofit organizations that promote healthy lifestyles and responsible choices--ideas the three deceased Pecklers supported and believed in, as do their surviving family members Judy, Jana and Jennifer Peckler.
The beneficiaries are Community Against Substance Abuse, which works toward its namesake goal with educational programs, parent networking, peers helping peers and positive alternative activities; The Teen and Family Counseling Center, which offers affordable and accessible counseling for youths and their families in the West Valley area; and A Place for Teens--also called The Outhouse--which provides a supervised, drug- and alcohol-free gathering place for teens to study, read, eat, play games, listen to music and attend workshops. Although located behind Los Gatos High School, it is open to all teenagers in the area.
This year, the Peckler Memorial Run & Relay begins with a 7:30 a.m. registration and stretch at the Los Gatos High School track, which is also the starting and finish point for the event. Participants walking the course begin at 8:30 a.m.; runners start at 9:30 a.m. Relay teams can either walk or run.
Whether walking, running or relaying, individuals and groups can choose a 10-, 5- or 2 1/2-mile course. The various legs of the course include scenic areas such as Forbes Mill Footbridge, Vasona Lake County Park, the Camden Percolation Ponds and the Los Gatos Creek Trail.
When the race is over, outstanding teams and individuals will receive awards and prizes, with snacks, drinks, live entertainment and a health fair for everyone.
Entry fees are $160 per team and $40 for individual runners or walkers. All participants receive commemorative T-shirts. To sign up or for information about the event or on how to be an individual or corporate sponsor, call Pam Dunnett at 408.867.2546 or Reiko Iwanaga at 408.867.4525, or stop by the Teen and Family Counseling Center, at 208 E. Main St. in Los Gatos.
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