MISSION VIEJO : Races to Raise Funds for Safe Rides Program

Every Friday and Saturday night during the school year, half a dozen high school students from South County can be found at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center waiting for the telephone to ring.

They’re expecting calls from teen-agers who need a confidential ride because they have been drinking or are with friends who have been drinking.

Since being launched at the hospital three years ago, South County Safe Rides has helped hundreds of teen-agers make it home alive.

“I get a good feeling,” said volunteer Marianne Bergheim, a 17-year-old senior from St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano. “I feel like I’m doing my part to prevent drinking and driving.”

To raise money for the program, the volunteers will sponsor a 5K and 10K run Sunday in Laguna Niguel.

The races, at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., will be at the Plaza de la Paz/Home Base Shopping Center on La Paz Road, between Pacific Park Drive and Avila Road. There is an $18 registration fee.

A free 1K children’s fun run is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. For more information on the fund-raiser, call (714) 365-2332.

During the school year, more than 230 students from nine high schools rotate weekends to handle calls and shuttle youths while adults supervise.

From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays, a team of six high school students are on call at the hospital to answer a toll-free hot line, (800) 273-RIDES.