Next weekend, lace up your running shoes as the Rotaract Club of the Marianas hosts it first 5K tace to benefit Guam's children. A community service organization led by young professionals between the ages of 18 to 30, the Rotaract Club of the Marianas continues to strive for service above self.

Club president Chris Surla told KUAM News, "We are sponsored by Guam's Rotary Clubs, and what we do is try to look at the community and look at what their needs and we try to address those needs."

And less than a year after hosting its first youth leadership conference, Rotaract will hit the ground running - literally - with an event inspired by helping local kids. Immediate past-president Eileen Agahan said, "The Run Fast for the Cast 5K is Rotaract's major project this year that will benefit our local community. Proceeds will benefit Guam's Shrine Club that assists children with orthopedic conditions 0037 so we're really excited about that."

And with the rising cases of orthopedic problems among children in Guam, Surla says the Guam Shrine Club was a worthy beneficiary of the proceeds from the non-profit's first 5K. "We choose the Guam Shrine's Club because they partner with Shriners Hospital in Hawaii," he explained. "And what they do is they come to Guam and they see children with orthopedic problems like club feet, scoliosis and so forth and what we noticed was there was a rising case of children being diagnosed with these orthopedic problems, so what we felt by raising funds for this organization, we're helping the children get medical attention, get transportation to see specialized care in Hawaii."

The course runs from Chamorro Village in Hagatna heading southbound with the turnaround point at the Governor's Complex at Adelup. Agahan continued, "It's going to be a very exciting event, we're looking at refreshments, tank tops for the first 500 finishers, exciting raffle prizes and people can register at hornet sporting goods, so support a great cause and help Guam's children."

The grand raffle prize is a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines courtesy of the Guam Shrine Club. "If you register before the race, you get it at a cheaper rate, it's $7 per person, or if you go in with a group of four its $25, one race day it's a little more expensive, its $10, but it's still going to a great cause, so we encourage all people to come out and show up for this cause," said Surla.

Run fast for the cast - a 5K event to help Guam's children walk, run and play is set for Saturday, April 25. Showtime for the race is 5am and race time at 6.