Runners everywhere have a weekend to look forward to, with two running events being hosted this weekend at the Earle May Boat Basin.

Elcan-King Elementary school p.e. coach, Kimberly Barthel, is ready for a jam packed Friday, filled with all things neon; including a glow party and glow run.

Barthel throws the students a good behavior party monthly and calls it a “glow party.” She, along with other faculty members, paints the students’ faces and sells them glow sticks or glow in the dark headbands. When she realized how much the students enjoyed these parties, she wanted to combine the glow theme with the idea of a 5K.

She then presented the idea of a glow fun run to the Parent Teacher Organization, who was skeptical at first. When they realized the opportunity for sponsorships and the amount they could raise for new technology, they decided it was worth the risk. They then began to work on the first glow run.

The run will be a family event and Barthel encourages parents who may not want to run or walk with their child to still attend. They will be painting faces, selling pizza and drinks and selling glow in the dark accessories.

The night will conclude at the Performing Arts Building, where there will be a glow party and dance music, following the run.

People interested in still registering can call the school or register on site at 6 p.m. at the Earle May Boat Basin. The race will begin at 6:30 p.m.

They invite everyone to come out and be a part of the most successful fundraiser Elcan-King has ever had.

Saturday kicks off with the 14th annual Kiwanis River Run. This event is a certified 5K and 10K, meaning avid runners can use this as one of their qualifying races for a larger race.

The run will begin at 9 a.m. and registration begins at 7:30. Runners can pre-register for $25, which will include a t-shirt or they can register the day of the race for $30 and still get a shirt. For runners not interested in receiving a shirt, the cost is $20.

Kiwanis Club president, Bill Holt said this is one of their largest fundraisers of the year and it helps them raise money for other service projects throughout the year.

Some of their projects include the Kiwanis-Kendrick Scholarship Drive, Parents night at the foster care system and providing dictionaries to third graders.

Holt encourages everyone to come out and run, saying there will be people from all over Southeast Alabama and North Florida joining this yearly race to raise money for a good cause.