BENTON — Registration is under way for the 2011 Reindeer Run for Reading, to be held Nov. 19 at Bishop Park. The race is presented by and will benefit Imagination Library of Saline County, which has enrolled 329 children to date in the program, which promotes early literacy by sending a book a month to the home of children under 5 years old.
Adults and children can re g i s t e r on l i ne at www.arkansasrunner.com or pick up registration forms at either Saline County Library location: the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton or the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant.
Imagination Library Chair Patti Bokony said it takes $30 ayear for each child enrolled in Imagination Library to receive their books. Proceeds from the Reindeer Run for Reading will go directly toward those purchasing costs.
“The race is family-friendly: we have the 5K at 9 a.m. for the avid runners and a family 1K at 10 a.m. so that smaller children can participate,” Bokony said.
Adult registration fees are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the race. The fees for children 12 and under are $10 in advance or $15 the day of the race.
Participants will receive a T-shirt, and prizes will be awarded for the 5K race in various age divisions. Additionally, race organizers said there will be snacks and fungiveaways for attendees.
Race sponsors, which are still being sought, currently include Congo Fireplace and Patio; Everett Buick GMC; Joy Ballard for County Collector; Curtis and Vera Ferguson; Sam and Charlie Chaffin; and Richard E. Phelen, D.D.S.
To join the list of Reindeer Run for Reading sponsors, call (501) 778-4766.
For more informat ion, visit www.arkansasrunner.com or either Saline County Library location. For general information regarding Imagination Library of Saline County, call (501) 778-4766 or visit Imagination Library of Saline County on Facebook or online at http://imaginationlibraryofsalinecounty. bbnow.org.
Tri-Lakes, Pages 53 on 10/27/2011