Dear Editor:

Rosemead 5K, Kids Fun Run and Tot Trot and its dozens of volunteers thank your newspaper for helping make this event a big success with its editorial coverage!

Runners and walkers were from very young Tot Trot to 70-years-old in the 5K. There were some comments about how good organization and operated the event was.  Race Director (Volunteer) Israel Estrada directed all these volunteers with a huge help from committee members who put their focus on their duties showing that teamwork accomplishes great things.  The real success though was the general volunteers who showed up very early on race day, some who jumped in before the volunteer starting time to get things moving.

What was evident among these volunteers from middle school students to senior citizens was they helped with a spirit that would make our USA’s founding fathers proud!  You would expect that from committee members in any group who have a genuine commitment to help others, and the general volunteers of registration, course marshals, water station and fruit station, Kids Zone, finish line volunteers who were as excited to hand a medal to runners as the runners were to receive the medal, Starbucks and also Driftwood Dairy booths where free products were handed out to support the event, these volunteers showed a true American spirit that “ran” throughout the event!

The sponsors helped financially with monetary or in-kind donations to help make Rosemead 5K event a success, an event that is designed to use profits to fund a few scholarships to USA veterans attending California State University at Los Angeles (CSULA)!

We really appreciate sponsors this year… City of Rosemead, Rosemead Chamber of Commerce Director Helen Hua and staff, Rosemead Kiwanis, California American Water, CSULA Associated Students, Driftwood Dairy, Irwindale Speedway and Events Center, Nature’s Bakery, Republic Services, Road ID, Starbucks (Rosemead Plaza), UFC Gym, and Vikon.  Also important support was given by Di Pilla’s Italian Restaurant, Fresh & Easy Market, Golden Rose Florist, In-N-Out burgers, Jim’s Famous Burgers, Roadrunner Sports, TGI Fridays, Target, The Hat, and Rosemead’s Dinsmoor House Museum.

We are also thankful for the City of Rosemead staff and city council with Rosemead Mayor Maggie Clark doing a great job at awarding and recognizing runners during the awards ceremony, Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff departments, and American Medical Response for making sure the event was safe and enjoyable.

And thank you to the participants who live in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties who came and ran or walked.

City of Rosemead has asked for an annual event, so Rosemead’s 2nd Annual 5K will be on July 4, 2016 at 7 a.m.!

The event web site www.rosemead5k.com will be active during the year and we’re already accepting sponsors for next year’s races!

Thanks again and Happy Birthday America!

Rosemead 5K Committee