by Carin Kirkegaard

With more than one thousand participants from seven local schools, the Rock Slide has become one of the most anticipated community events in Castle Pines North (CPN). With all eight schools from the Rock Canyon High School area committed to compete in the 2006 Rock Slide, this year’s event promises to be even bigger.

The 5K run and one mile run/walk is set for November 11 with the run beginning at 9 a.m. The run will begin and end at Rock Canyon High School, located at the intersection of MacArthur Ranch Road and Monarch Boulevard.

The Rock Slide began three years ago with two of CPN’s elementary schools, Buffalo Ridge and Timber Trail, as a way to promote healthy living and raise funds to benefit each school’s physical education programs. Proceeds from this year’s run will be divided among the participating schools.

“The Rock Slide is a unique advertising opportunity for businesses that wish to advertise to our community. Their advertising dollars are 100 percent returned to each participating school as a non-profit donation,” said Stacie Sneider, Executive Director of the Rock Slide. “Not only are these advertising dollars directly impacting our children, there is also a sense of appreciation from families toward these businesses that help support our schools,” continued Sneider.

Sponsorship of this anticipated community event offers many benefits: links from the Rock Slide website, flyers sent home in student’s backpacks, posters at each of the schools, advertisement with school e-mail distributions, company name and logo on Rock Slide T-shirts, promotional items in the run’s goodie bags, and a booth at the event for all platinum sponsors.

There are five levels of sponsorship available:

Presenting – The presenting sponsor will be awarded to the highest donator. With this comes top billing during the event, on the Rock Slide website, on all forms, T-shirts, posters, and the opportunity to make a presentation and set up a booth the day of the event.

Platinum ($1,000) – All sponsors who donate at this level or above will receive a large logo, link and personal ad page on the Rock Slide website, a large logo on flyers and T-shirts, and have the opportunity to set up a booth or table at the event.

Gold ($500) – All sponsors who donate at this level or above will receive a graphic on all posters, T-shirts, advertising, and their company logo, name and web link on the Rock Slide website.

Silver ($300) – All sponsors who donate at this level or above will have their name printed on all flyers, T-shirts, posters, and advertising.

Sponsors must commit by September 15 to be included in event advertising. As soon as donations are received, the sponsor’s web link will be added to the Rock Slide website.

This year the Rock Slide has joined forces with the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines. Immediately following the run, a pancake breakfast will be served. All proceeds from the pancake breakfast will benefit the Second Wind Fund, a teen suicide prevention program for the Douglas County School District. To learn more about this organization visit their website at www.thesecondwindfund.org.

To learn more about the Rock Slide and receive additional information on sponsorship, contact Stacie Sneider at 720-733-1291, or by email at Stacie.Sneider@DCRockSlide.com.