Santa Run was Fun for All

Race director Arne Sandberg couldn’t have asked for more on Saturday morning. The inaugural Santa Fun Run and Walk featured temperatures in the mid-60s and brilliant sunshine for its 143 runners and walkers of all ages, who lapped the lake at Mackle Park and ran up and down the linear park trail that connects the Racket Center to Mackle Park. The runners covered three miles and the walkers a mile-and-a-half.

“We decided to put it on for charity,” Arne Sandberg said, "Sunrise Rotary and the Marco Island Police Foundation. All of the funds are split equally between those two foundations. There’s no cost to anyone. We just decided to have the community come out and enjoy a family gathering.”

There were plenty of children enjoying the festivities, which made Sandberg smile.

"We want this to be an all-out community event,” Sandberg said. "The kids, the families. Kids under 10 were free, so there was no reason for their moms or dads not to bring them out.”

While Sandberg handled most of the details, he was sure to thank others, including Marco Island Academy principal Melissa Scott.

“I couldn’t have done it without Ms. Scott,” Sandberg said. “And the Interact kids, my wife Jill, and Bill Morris, (Sunrise) Rotary president.”

The plan is for the Santa Run to become an annual event.

“The goal is to grow the event,” Sandberg said, “I hope to see over 200 people out here next year."