Pleasanton Rotary Club to host 29th annual Halloween Spirit Run

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Larry Annis, a longstanding member of the Rotary Club’s Scholarship Committee, poses for a picture at the Alameda County Fairgrounds before last year’s Spirit Run. (Photo courtesy Rotary Club of Pleasanton)

The Rotary Club of Pleasanton is hosting its 29th annual Halloween Spirit Run this Sunday, a popular community event downtown that raises money toward funding student scholarships.

“Based in large part on the proceeds raised at last year’s Spirit Run, this past spring, the Rotary Club of Pleasanton awarded $76,500 in scholarships to Pleasanton students to further their education,” according to a news release from the club.

Runners take off during last year’s Halloween Spirit Run, which was organized and hosted by the Pleasanton Rotary Club. (Photo courtesy Rotary Club of Pleasanton)

Steve Van Dorn, president of the Rotary Club of Pleasanton Foundation, told the Weekly that the event also helps with funding community grants and international projects.

“Last year we awarded community grants in the amount of $36,600 to local nonprofits like Sunflower Hill, Valley Humane Society and Goodness Village,” Van Dorn said. “The international projects include purchasing wheelchairs for those in need that live in our sister city Tulancingo, Mexico, and the building of toilet facilities for schools in Nigeria and other international locations.”

The race, which begins at 8 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 30), will start and end in front of Workbench True Value Hardware (652 Main St.). Participants can choose to either run or walk the 5K or 10K routes, which will go through downtown Pleasanton and the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

There will also be a kids challenge on Main Street at 9:30 a.m. for ages two to eight where they will receive a race T-shirt, goody bag and medal.

The club is encouraging everyone of all ages to run or walk in costume so that they can also participate in a costume contest that will be held after the run where there will be different categories and prizes. To close out the event, the club will also be giving out awards based on age groups and will be holding a raffle at 10 a.m.

Residents can pre-register online and in-person by visiting spiritrun.pleasantonrotary.org or going to Fleet Feet Pleasanton, located at at 234 Main St. Pre-registration is available through Saturday (Oct. 29) but participants can also register the day of the race from 6:30-7:45 a.m. in the parking lot adjacent to Workbench.

The first 750 people to register will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt, according to the news release.