This Saturday, Crystal Lake Park will host the 19th year of the Women’s Fitness 5K Run And Walk.

The run will take place at 9 a.m., but participants can pick up registration packets beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the park. Before the race, there will be an 8:30 a.m. race for children, as well as a check presentation to the Center for Women in Transition (CWT) and Crisis Nursery, said race co-director Jan Seeley, publisher and co-owner of Marathon & Beyond – an international magazine for runners.

“The kids’ race is open to boys and girls, but the 9 a.m. race is open to women only,” Seeley said.

Besides the two races, there will be food and drinks provided by various local business sponsors as well as pre- and post-race massages. Seeley said one of the race’s biggest supporters is the Second Wind Running Club, which will provide judging for the race, help with set-up and advertising.

After the women’s race, each participant will receive a carnation. There will be an awards ceremony with prizes that include pottery made by local female artists, Seeley said.

“People have come to expect really classy awards from us,” she said.

The goals of the run are multifold, said Elizabeth Cook, race co-director and vice president for business development for Crouse Printing.

“The first goal is to make sure participants have a great time,” she said.

The other goal is to increase awareness of the importance of women’s fitness to women and increase awareness that fitness can be enjoyable, Cook said. This race is the only female walk and run in Champaign County – men are welcome as spectators and volunteers, but not as race participants.

“It’s a walk for women, by women,” Seeley said. “On one level, we try to provide an opportunity for women to come together and race in a nurturing environment. (On another) it’s a multi-generation thing – we’ll have a grandma, a mom and a grandkid all come out together.”

Seeley explained that the event was “a wonderful opportunity for women in the community to race together in the security of an event that is not as competitive – although we do have some very fast performances.”

According to Seeley, the race used to be affiliated with series of races across the nation that drew attention to the fact that women in the Olympics did not have equal opportunities as men.

“Women were not being allowed to compete in races greater than 1500m,” she said.

Once, however, women had equal opportunities, the race continued its original purpose – to raise funds for women’s service organizations, which Cook said has been a success.

“It’s been an event that women in the community have taken an interest in and have continuously volunteered for,” Cook said.

The money donated at the end of the event comes from the participants, who pay with their registration packets, and local businesses. Seeley hopes to raise at least $2000 for CWT and Crisis Nursery.

With an abundance of service organizations to choose from, Seeley said the race organizers chose CWT and Crisis Nursery because they wanted to support organizations that worked for women.

Seeley explained that CWT and Crisis Nursery were asked to create a wish list of items they needed. Brochures announcing the race are being distributed around town and race participants are encouraged to donate some of the items at Saturday’s race. In return, they will receive a free book that was donated to the organizers by Human Kinetics.

“We think it’s wonderful,” said Ginny Dewar, executive director of Crisis Nursery. “We get all our operating budget from the community and this gives us a two-fold purpose – funds and a way to advertise (ourselves).”

Dewar said the organization would be hosting children’s games and an information booth at the race.

Registration for the race costs $17 with a t-shirt and $10 without a shirt. Forms will be available on Friday at Body n’ Sole at the intersection of Curtis Road and Route 45 in Savoy from 2 to 5:30 p.m.