By Josh McFadden | [email protected]

It’s the time of year when the Salt Lake Valley is filled with an assortment of fun runs and races of all lengths. Sugar House is no exception with a long-standing event coming to Sugar House Park the first week of August. 

Dash for Donation 2019 will be held Saturday, Aug. 3 at Sugar House Park. The event begins at 7 a.m. with same-day registration. The 5k dash and 2k walk officially begin at 8 a.m. Participants of any age and all skill and experience levels are invited to participate. The course will be at the Big Field Pavilion at the park. 

This is the 23rd year of the event, which is designed to honor organ, eye and tissue donors. On the same day, another Dash for Donation event will take place in Ogden. Those who take part are also encouraged to honor loved ones who have passed on but whose donations saved other lives. The course is lined with pictures and stories of such examples; they stand as powerful reminders of the effect organ, tissue and eye donations can have on the lives of recipients and their families.

Another popular aspect of the event is that people are welcome to bring along children (including those in strollers) as well as dogs. Be aware that dogs must be on a leash, however. 

The running/walking portion of the morning is scheduled to wrap up at 9:30 a.m. There will then be a raffle drawing. 

As for pricing, individual runners will pay $30, while teams of five or more people will pay $25 each. Children under 12 cost $20. Prices go up by $5 on July 26. Those who sign up should plan on picking up race packets on Aug. 1 between 4 and 7 p.m. or on Aug. 2 between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the DonorConnect office at 230 S. 500 East in Salt Lake. You can register at www.eventbrite.com by searching for Dash for Donation on the site.