LAGUNA NIGUEL : Runners Will Aid Teen Rides Project

A 5K/10K run to benefit the South County Safe Rides program will be held Saturday in Laguna Niguel.

The Mission Viejo-based program arranges confidential transportation home for teen-agers in South County who have been drinking on weekend evenings.

Runners interested in participating can register on the morning of the competition, which starts at 7:30 a.m. Registration costs $18.

Participants will get computerized race results, a T-shirt, a bag of giveaways from local merchants and will be eligible for a drawing. Aerobic warm-up and massage therapy will be available before and after the event.

Sponsored by TJ Maxx clothing stores, all proceeds from the race will go to the teen program.

South County Safe Rides tries to keep teen-agers who have been drinking at parties off the streets.

A telephone line operated by volunteers in South County takes calls from teens on Friday and Saturday nights.

The program is run by the Boy Scouts of America and is assisted by several businesses in the community, including TJ Maxx clothing stores and Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo.

Safe Rides needs about $25,000 annually to operate and is funded through donations and fund-raising events such as Saturday’s 5K and 10K runs. Last year’s event raised $10,000 for the program.

Volunteers also are needed. Those interested in participating are given training, which is offered every two months.

For information about the program, call (714) 831-6311. The hot line number is (800) 273-RIDE.