Part of The Counseling Center staff holds up the 2012 Natural High 5K Run/Walk T-shirt to be awarded the first 200 participants, and the duffle bag to be awarded the man and woman winner. Pictured L-R Gina Collinsworth, Andy Albrecht, Sarah Bachman, Andy Maillet and Angee Tuggle. Not pictured are Clarence Parker, Vickie McGinnis, Sonie Hash and Beth Dunlap.

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Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

A spaghetti dinner has been added to the Fourth Annual Natural High 5K benefit fundraiser, sponsored by The Counseling Center to benefit their youth outreach and prevention programs.

Gina Collinsworth, Community Relations & Development Director at The Counseling Center said the spaghetti dinner will be on Friday, Oct. 26, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., at All Saints Episcopal Church, 610 Fourth Street, with carryout available. The menu includes spaghetti with marinara sauce and meatballs, salad, garlic roll, brownie and drink. The dinner is included in the $20 price of registration for the 5K. The first 200 registrants will get a Wikify tech shirt with the 5K logo and sponsors, plus a goody bag filled with a water bottle, Halloween stickers, flashing button, Gatti’s coupon, Starbucks, Tim Horton’s and more.

“The purpose is to offer more customer service so people can come and pick up their race information and pick up their timer chip,” Collinsworth said. “And that will make it more smooth on Saturday morning.”

This year’s course includes a scenic 5K run/walk along historic Portsmouth, Ohio, landmarks, the floodwall murals, riverfront, and Alexandria Point, looping around to end where it begins on Front Street and Chillicothe Street, under the Grant Bridge. This year’s course is the same route as the famous Shawnee State University Bear Run.

Run/Walk check-in and registration will be held poolside at The Holiday Inn, Second Street, starting at 8:00 a.m., with a start time of 9:00 am. All racers will be chip-timed, with the results published online, and the first 200 registrants will receive a Natural High “wicking” tech shirt, and a goody bag.

Collinsworth said overall winners will be awarded medals in 13 age categories, and the fastest top female and male racers will also receive a Natural High logo duffle bag stuffed with high-quality runner’s gear. The cost is $20, which includes both the run/walk and new this year, the spaghetti dinner held the night before.

Collinsworth said there are several ways to register for the 5K. Runners and walkers can email to request a registration form sbachman@thecounselingcenter.org, call (740) 354-3829, ext. 234 to register over the phone, go to The Counseling Center’s Facebook page to find a link, stop by the administration office at 923 Findlay Street, Portsmouth, or sign up online at http:NaturalHigh5K.EventBrite.com.

“The Fourth Annual Natural High 5K is a benefit fundraiser aimed at raising awareness and funds solely for our Youth Outreach and Prevention programs, Collinsworth said.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com