JD students' fundraiser to help homeless youth

By Rachel Kuhr

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

DRAPER — The second annual Distance for Destiny 5K Run/Walk at Juan Diego Catholic High School will be held Sept. 29, in conjunction with Homecoming weekend festivities. Juan Diego student government leaders invite individuals outside the school community to participate, as well as students, faculty and staff members and their families.

Last year, all proceeds from the event went to orphanages in Nicaragua, but some participants had qualms about sending the money so far away. This year, JD will share proceeds from the race with the Homeless Youth Resource Center, an organization that helps young people struggling to find shelter, food or employment in the Salt Lake Valley (See sidebar).

Melissa Smart, whose children attend JD, suggested the Homeless Youth Resource Center as this year’s beneficiary.

Riley Rose, JDCHS Student Body President and founder of the Distance for Destiny run, is hoping at least 300 people will participate in the event this year, twice the number that showed up last year. About 80 people are already signed up.

The evening before the race, a tailgate party will feature activities and prizes, which Rose calls a "mini Festival of Roses."

"It makes me proud to know I have enough people behind me [who] really are going to push this thing [and] kids on our student government that are going to work so hard to put it on," Rose said. "The run has taken a lot of preparation over the last few months. The hardest part is just asking for donations and advertising the race. We are much more organized and efficient this year because we know what we are doing. It’s great to know that all the money is going to be helping kids that are our age, as well."

Entry fee for the 5K is $20. The run will start and end at the Juan Diego Catholic High School campus. Start time is 8:30 a.m. Sept. 29. On-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Each participant will receive a Nalgene bottle and a bag of coupons and prize tickets.

To register for the run or for information, contact Juan Diego Student Life Coordinator Lynelle Williams, 801-984-7608.

Rachel Kuhr is a sophomore at Juan Diego Catholic High School.