By KAREN DAILY

Staff writer

North Augusta needed a 10K road race, and Wackenhut officers were more than willing to help with that while hoping to raise money for charity.

Steve Morrone, race director who works got Wackenhut Services Incorporated/Savannah River Site WSI/SRS, said it has taken about a year to organize the first "River Run," but anticipates being able to raise quite a bit of money for the United Way with the Oct. 24 race.

Wackenhut officers are, however, still searching for runners to help accomplish that goal.

The River Run 10K will begin at 9 a.m.at the Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta.

"It is a beautiful course," said Morrone.

Morrone worked alongside operational safety lieutenant Wendell Edwards earlier this year to lay out the 6.2 mile course.

The two rode bikes in North Augusta and laid out the route. Them, they called the Aiken Running Club to certify the course.

The run will be a challenge, with the first mile going uphill. But Morrone was quick to point out that the remainder is mostly downhill,

Currently there are 75 racers entered.

A family fun day is also scheduled for the charity, featuring children's games, food, vendors, a silent auction, the 10K road race and family fun run.

Historically, Wackenhut has held a charity golf tournament to raise funds, but this year the fund raiser will take to the roads.

Morrone said the overhead for a race is much lower than that of the golf tournament.

Online registration is available through Active.com and Strictlyrunning.com. The run is $30 and $10 for the Kids Fun Run. Complete a registration form found on the Aiken Running Club at www.runaiken.com.

A tax deductible check should be made payable to Aiken County United Way, Attn: River Run c/o WSI-SRS, PO Drawer W, Aiken, S.C. 29802.

For more information call Steve Morrone at (803) 952-7521.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.