HandsOn Santa Clarita provided an opportunity for community members to run and volunteer at their fifth annual 5K/10K Holiday Fun Run at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

“It’s our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Seema Shah, the executive director for HandsOn Santa Clarita. “ It’s one of the events that we host that truly brings people together.”

The funds go towards HandsOn Santa Clarita, which connects volunteers to other nonprofits with volunteering opportunities

Over 150 people volunteer every year, according to Shah, in addition to the runners participating in the event.

Runners raced around a Holidays In The Park themed Six Flags Magic Mountain, circling around the parking lot and trekking through the theme park to cross the finish line.

“I’m just running races with the family, I got my parents both in the 5K,” said Grant Stromberg, a former NCAA Cross Country runner with Cal Poly Pomona, who won the 10K race. “I like spending time with the people, and it’s just a readily close race to where I live, so I like to support the local races and participate.”

The run is also a way to engage with the Santa Clarita community, organizers said.

“I think (volunteering) is very important because you just need to give back your community that helped shaped the person you are,” Isaac Choi, a committee member of HandsOn Santa Clarita, who was handing out medals at the event.

“It would help you if you would need some hours,” Choi said, explaining high school students could use it as an opportunity to fulfill their community service hours.

HandsOn Santa Clarita’s next event is an entire week dedicated to celebrating volunteers during national volunteer week.

“(It’s) Just a way to celebrate everyone that gives back within Santa Clarita Valley,” Shah said.

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