(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – The fifth annual Alaska State Troopers Adventure Relay across Alaska to benefit the Wish Upon The North Star charity starts in Fairbanks on July 24 and will end approximately 650 miles later in Seward on July 28. In between are 44 legs of hiking, biking, running, swimming, kayaking and river rafting to benefit WUNS, a non-profit organized by Alaskans in 1983 to fulfill the wishes of Alaskan children with life-threatening illnesses. This event is not about getting the best time or finishing a leg first. It’s about helping fellow Alaskans while getting into the outdoors and helping kids and their families take an emotional vacation from the rigors of a life filled with hospital visits.

Registration is open for state, municipality, federal and military law enforcement personnel, employees, retirees and family to participate as well as their firefighter and Department of Law counterparts. Through participation, pledges and fundraising, ASTAR was able to raise $85,000 for WUNS in the past four years. The relay captures the spirit of determination to face the challenges on the trail, symbolizing the far greater challenges for those the event will benefit.

Created and organized by employees of the Alaska State Troopers on a volunteer basis, the relay includes the community AST serves – the State of Alaska – and benefits an Alaskan charity. Mixing up the methods of navigating Alaska’s beautiful and challenging terrain allows enthusiasts of all types of adventure to participate. The route travels through communities both small and large to strengthen the bonds between these individuals and the communities they serve, and over varying terrain to capture the adventuresome spirit that embodies The Last Frontier. The public can cheer the participants on, volunteer to help along the route and raise money to benefit children with life-threatening illnesses.

There’s a leg for every level of outdoor enthusiast from a family stroll on Winner Trail (Leg 35) in Girdwood, to hiking Kesugi Ridge (Legs 12 & 13). There are numerous bike legs including a 39-mile mountain bike over Resurrection Pass (Leg 39) to family biking legs through Anchorage and along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail (Legs 27-30) on Saturday. There are kayaking segments (Legs 23, 40-41) and a Class V Six Mile Creek guided raft trip by Chugach Outdoor Center (Leg 37). There is even a 1-mile swim in Mirror Lake (Leg 26) on Saturday. This is a family-friendly event and there is no rush for people to finish even while others challenge themselves.  The last leg is a 1.5-mile run starting at Safeway grocery store in Seward and ending at the Sea Life Center at approximately 4:19 p.m., followed by a barbeque at the nearby park pavilion.

For more information, visit the ASTAR website at www.alaskastar.org, email ASTARRelay@gmail.com or contact Beth Ipsen at (907)347-0638 or follow the journey on Facebook.

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