PRESS RELEASE – Pay-Less Markets Community Foundation is proud to announce their annual “Pay-Less Kick the Fat 5K Run/Walk & Community Fair” scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at Paseo Stadium in Hagåtña. Touted as Guam’s largest 5K event, with over 2,700 people participating last year, Pay-Less expects an even larger turnout this year as they celebrate the start of the race with fireworks and host a community fair immediately following the race.

Proceeds of the event will benefit iRecycle and Erica’s House of Hope. In addition a portion of the proceeds will also go to the 2/12 Memorial Fund. “The Pay-Less Kick the Fat event has become a tradition for many individuals, families, schools and organizations to enjoy a fun 5k run, free refreshments, music and camraderie,” says Kathy Sgro, Executive Vice President of Pay-Less Supermarkets. “We are proud to provide this event for the community to encourage a healthy lifestyle, promote awareness of health related organizations and to help raise funds for these worthy non-profit organizations.”

Registration forms are now available at all Pay-Less Supermarkets (Hagåtña, Sinajana, Oka, Dededo, Yigo, Mangilao and Micronesia Mall) and at Hornet Sports in Tamuning. Registration forms are also available for download at www.paylessmarkets.com.  Early entry fees are: $5 for students, $7 for adults and $22 for a family of four (max). Race day entry fees are $7 for students and $10 for adults. Registrants will receive a free reusable shopping bag when they register.

A Kick the Fat dry-fit running shirt will be provided to the first 2,500 finishers. Medals will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each age group, along with a trophy for 1st place male and female overall. All runners will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a trip for two to a U.S. destination courtesy of Delta Airlines. Entertainment will be provided with lots of giveaways and prizes and a huge array of healthy refreshments generously donated by the sponsors of the event.

The course will start in front of Chamorro Village on Marine Corps Drive and runners will run north to Adelup where they will turn around to head back to Paseo. The course has been modified this year and upon approaching Paseo, runners till take a left hand turn into Paseo at the Hagatna Boat Basin, staying to the left of the Paseo Stadium, runners will head towards the Staute of Liberty Park and will cross the finish line just after the canoe house. Runners will then fill in their finisher card, grab a drink of water and walk around to the main Paseo parking lot to collect their t-shirt and enjoy the Community Fair. This modification to the course has been made in an effort to accommodate the large number of runners that are expected to participant with the hopes of executing a smooth finish line process.

Please be advised that the internal roads of Paseo will be closed from 6pm, Friday, March 15 through 12pm, Saturday, March 16, 2013 to accommodate this event. Marine Corps Drive will also be completely closed to traffic from 4am through 9am on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

The Community Fair will feature over 30 health, fitness and environment organizations hosting booths – demonstrations and offerings will range from health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar testing), fitness center membership program offerings, eco-friendly tips and information and community-based non-profit group information. Department of Public Health, American Cancer Society, Advance Chiropractors, Adio Chiropractors, Dr. Horinouchi’s Wellness Clinic, Guam Cancer Care, Guam Diabetes Association, The Gym Guahan, Synergy, and Paradise Fitness Center will all be hosting a booth. The Community Fair will be expanded to include a “Green” Fair with organizations such as IRecycle, Sea Grant, Guam EPA, Marine Mania, RAGS and the UOG Green Army participating.

 This year the Pay-Less Kick the Fat 5K is “going green” as event organizers work closely with iRecycle to provide recycling stations at the community fair and signage along the course to educate runners on how to keep our island sustainable.

For more information, please contact Kathy Sgro at Pay-Less Supermarkets at 477-9266 or Sally Malay at Ruder Integrated Marketing Strategies (RIMS) by email sallym@guam.net or call 635-1126 or 688-0599.