Organizers are hoping hundreds will join the fun Saturday morning, Dec. 15, 2012 for the sixth annual December Dash, a 2-mile fun run/walk and 5K run to raise funds for Freedom House. The event will start at 9 a.m., run through the Red Smith neighborhood on Green Bay’s far East Side and end up back at the school for food, entertainment, door prizes and awards for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place in different age groups (up through 8th grade, 9th – 12th grade and adult) and gender in each event.  All proceeds from the event will go to support Freedom House, Green Bay’s only shelter for all types of homeless families with children located just a few miles from the school. Kids from Kindergarten through high school are expected to join in the fun. The public is welcome to join in, everyone is welcome.

“It’s just a super family event and it’s very common to have families do it together with mom or dad pushing a stroller or pulling wagon with a kid or two while walking,” said Jeff Jennings, event coordinator for Red Smith.  “It reminds me of the song, Walking In A Winter Wonderland. It’s a great way to teach the kids how important it is to give back, to help those in need, to understand you can be compassionate and have fun when you help others.”

Robyn Davis, president of Freedom House, is touched by such encouragement from the community, especially when it happens year after year. “We are pleased to once again benefit from Red Smith School’s December Dash.  It is a great event that involves the whole family in healthy holiday fun while reaching out to those in the community who are in need,” she said

New this year: Pepsi Cola donated Mountain Dew for each participant. “We’re telling everybody to “Do the Dew, then Do the Dash,’” Jennings joked. “The food, music, and a raffle at the end will ensure that almost everyone … if not everyone … will leave with something in addition to the Mountain Dew.”

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Red Smith School, located on 2765 Sussex Road, Green Bay. Entry fee is $5 per person or $15 per family and includes food, music, prizes, games and all kinds of fun. Pre-registration forms can be sent via email. Contact jbjennings@gbaps.org. Over the past five years, Red Smith has raised over $2000 for Freedom House and with the event growing every year, they’re hoping to raise $1,000 this year alone. That will take 200 participants.