Support the Boys and Girls Club by meeting Whidbey Island first responders at the Hustle with the Heroes 5K and watching a contest of strength that pits firefighters against police.

Events begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 22. at Coupeville Elementary School.

The goal is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the people they serve, said Deputy Laurrin Bates of the Sheriff’s Office. It supports healthy living and raises money for local children.

“It also is a way for us to get out and just meet people and let people meet us and just kind of remind everyone that we’re human,” she said. “We’re your neighbors. We’re the people you see at the grocery store, because a lot of the times people just kind of see our uniform and our badge and think we’re all the same.”

Along with the Sheriff’s Office, members of the Oak Harbor Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Langley Police Department, South Whidbey Fire/EMS, Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue, North Whidbey Fire and Rescue, Oak Harbor Fire Department, WhidbeyHealth EMS, ICOM 911, Life Flight Network and more will line up to race.

If people don’t want to run or walk, they can still donate, Bates said. All the money will go to the Boys and Girl Club. After, there will be a fun community gathering where the departments will have booths, food trucks will serve snacks and patrons can play yard games. On the sign-up link, supporters can choose to run the “virtual race,” to donate and show their presence digitally if they can’t make the in-person event.

The police departments will then team up to take on the fire departments in tug-o’-war which, despite the fire departments having more time to work out, Bates thinks the police have a pretty good shot at winning.

Bates plans for the event to recur, bigger and better, annually.

Search “Hustle With Heroes 5k Fun Run/Walk” on runsignup.com for more information.