Runner goes the distance for a cause

Zach Perrin plans to pound the pavement for 50 miles on Saturday to help out a youth in need.

Perrin, a Flathead High School junior, plans to run from Lakeside to West Glacier — snow or shine — to raise money for 12-year-old Jamie Founds of Marion.

Founds recently was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia and is undergoing treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Perrin learned of her diagnosis from his grandmother, who owns the mobile home community where Founds lives.

Perrin took on the project as part of the Social Entrepreneurship Club at Flathead. The goal of the club is to cultivate projects such as this from idea to reality.

“We do certain things in the community to better the lives of everyone around you,” Perrin said.

Logging 50 miles will be a first for Perrin, a highly decorated high school cross-country and track runner.

“The farthest I’ve ever run was 20 miles,” Perrin said, but he said he is ready for the challenge.

He will lace up his running shoes and take off from his house at 6 a.m. along with friend Derrick Williams, a senior at Columbia Falls High School, who plans to run and bicycle the route.

Other cross-country teammates, classmates and coaches also plan to join him along the way.

Perrin’s route will go from U.S. 93 to U.S. 2, passing through Kalispell, Columbia Falls and the Canyon and finishing at the Glacier National Park west entrance.

People will be able to cheer Perrin on at four checkpoints along the way:

 Mile 12.5 at approximately 7:30 a.m. — Kalispell Toyota, U.S. 93 South, Kalispell.

 Mile 21 at approximately 9:30 a.m. — Wendy’s, U.S. 2, Evergreen.

 Mile 31.5 at approximately 11:30 a.m. — Super 1 Foods, U.S. 2, Columbia Falls.

 Mile 39 at approximately 1:30 p.m. — Mike’s Conoco, U.S. 2, Hungry Horse.

Donations may be made to the Jaime Founds Fund at Wells Fargo Bank in Kalispell. 

For more information, contact Perrin’s mother, Lisa, at 844-3290.