On Sunday, March 8, Knott’s Berry Farm hosted the Coaster Run. The Coaster Run is an annual fundraising event for the Speech and Language Development Center. Supporters and participants took part in either a 5K or 10K run/walk and children participated in a Camp Snoopy Kids Run. The Speech and Language Development Center serves Orange and Los Angeles counties, as well as San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
On Sunday, March 8, Knott’s Berry Farm hosted the Coaster Run. The Coaster Run is an annual fundraising event for the Speech and Language Development Center. Supporters and participants took part in either a 5K or 10K run/walk and children participated in a Camp Snoopy Kids Run. The Speech and Language Development Center serves Orange and Los Angeles counties, as well as San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Supporters and individual runners of the event began to pick up their packets at a bright and early, 5:30 a.m. The packets included a tee shirt, runner’s bib, and goody bag. At 7 a.m., the runners were off to the races, running in and around the Knott’s Berry Farm theme park and Soak City Water Park. By 9 a.m. the kids were ready to get going and were set loose on a modest 1 K run through Camp Snoopy and neighboring sections of the theme park. 4,850 adults participated in the event: 3,251 in the 5K and 1,599 in the 10K. 765 children took part in the Camp Snoopy Kids Run.
The 5K began in the Knott’s Berry Farm parking lot. Runners curled the parking lot and then crossed Beach Blvd. by way of underpass. They soon found themselves in Knott’s Berry Farm. Once the runners had run through the park, they were guided through the south parking lot, extending to just about Crescent Ave. They then made their way back across Beach Blvd. and through Soak City. The finish line was near the runners’ exit at Soak City, very close to where the race began. The 10K runners also ran this route in addition to running through residential Buena Park. All of those who finished the race received a Knott’s Berry Farm Snoopy finisher’s medal.
Lucy and Charlie Brown made appearances. They encouraged and pushed the runners for most of the race. The favorite characters were also seen taking pictures with those who were not necessarily in a hurry to complete the run.
After the race, there was an exposition and a free slice of boysenberry pie for those who participated. For some, the slice of fresh boysenberry pie was their motivation during the race. Booths of various non-profit organizations lined the parking lot as well as vendors such as H & R Block and Nesquik. A running club was also present. The local radio station, 100.3 The Sound, provided music from their event vehicle for the approximately 20 booths. The Speech and Language Development Center had two booths in which they sold exclusive merchandise for the event.
“The goal of this event is to raise awareness and fundraise to support therapy and education for children with autism and numerous other conditions,” said Dan Griggs of the Speech and Language Development Center.
The money that was raised will go to various clinical services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech and language therapy.The Speech and Language Development Center has been located in Buena Park since 1979 and serves well over 300 children and young adults with language, learning and/or behavior problems.
For more information, one can visit, www.sldc.net, the organization’s official website. Their location stands at 8699 Holder St. Buena Park, CA 90620. The Speech and Language Development Center can be contacted at 714-821-3620.
