Assisteens first 5K raises more than $6,000

Assisteens of the Bay Area raised more than $6,000 for Operation School Bell with its first 5K race at Meador Park.

The event took three years of planning to come together, under the direction of Mary Cordes, assistant vice chair of fundraising; Holly Matthews, Assisteens chairman; and Robby Sabban of Clear Lake Fitness Club.

Zach Dwyer of Clear Lake High School placed first with a time of 18:09, followed by Forrest Bell of CLHS, Hannah Jones of Brookside Intermediate and Emma Latimore of CLHS.

Operation School Bell provides school clothing for students in need to help boost self-esteem and encourage an eagerness to learn. More than 1,700 students in four districts have been helped so far this year by Operation School Bell.

For more information, visit bayarea.assistanceleague.org.