Last year’s College Cap Classic, a 5K/2K for all ages, has been replaced by this year’s Mummy Mayhem Run.
Want to be chased by mummies, play dodgeball for charity or earn much-needed community service hours? If so, the Third Annual CHS Family Day for Charity has all of these activities and more for fabulous fall fun with the entire family.
CHS Family Day for Charity and the first Mummy Mayhem 5K and 2K Run will be taking place Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carmel Middle School and will benefit the Captain Cooper School Garden Project along with several local charities.
Activities at the Sunday event include live music provided by the Singer-Songwriters’ Club, a native plant sale and cheer and sports clinics, as well as much more.
About four years ago the school had students take a community service survey, and some responses asked for more opportunities to complete their required hours through school-sponsored events.
“The community service goes both ways,” says Diana Vita, one of the organizers of the event. “It’s a really good showcase for Carmel High kids, as well as raising funds.”
This year the funds raised will go to the Captain Cooper School Garden Project to compensate for lost grant funding, in the hopes the school will be able to continue their garden program.
“It is a really direct connection within our school district for a really good cause,” Vita comments.
A puppy going fishing is just one of the many sights you might see during Family Day for Charity’s carnival games.
Several other charities, including MEarth, Carmel Valley Angel Project and Hope Center Food Pantry, should also receive donations. Event attendees are asked to bring money for games and possibly donate items like canned foods.
Last year’s race, called the College Cap Classic, went down Hatton Canyon; however, this year’s will be held at CMS. The 5K/2K is a Halloween-themed run following the school’s cross-country course while athletes of the field hockey team, along with other volunteers, will be dressed as mummies to chase racers. The idea is based on popular Zombie Runs, but will take a less frightening approach to encourage younger racers.
“It’s kind of a tamer, sweeter Zombie Run. No blood and gore, just fun and games,” Vita adds.
Although CHS students are given an opportunity to volunteer and gain some of the 60 community service hours required for graduation, organizers are hoping that students will participate in the run.
“It would be great if high school kids could come out because the more people who come, the better the race gets and builds for the future,” Vita notes.
In addition to the other activities, there will also be a dodgeball tournament held in the CMS gym primarily for high school students. Teams are hit with a $50 entrance fee, but the total sum raised goes to the charity of the winning team’s choice.
“The best part of family day is seeing how many kids from [CHS] participate,” mentions Patricia Hunt, an organizer of Family Day. “Whether they are playing dodgeball, painting faces, doing a cheer or soccer clinic, or driving robots, it is just fun for me to see the kids join in and participate on a Sunday.”
The event was initially started to coincide with national Make a Difference Day, usually held during the last week of October, and while still being held with the spirit of the largest national day of community service, organizers believe it would be best to have the event earlier in the month to avoid other Halloween-related activities around the peninsula.
Admission to Family Day is free. Participation in the Mummy Mayhem Run costs $10 for adults and $5 for students over 5 years old, and includes a race T-shirt and post-race snacks
Registration for the run can be completed at CarmelHigh.org or EventBrite.com. For more information, please contact Diana Vita or Patricia Hunt at (831) 624-1821.
-Delaney King
