More than 300 people appeared at Pohnpei’s Palm Terrace shopping center on July 3, 2010 for the first Let’s Go Local fun run, sponsored by Island Food Community of Pohnpei (IFCP) and the FSM National Olympic Committee. Registration was free, and participants who walked or ran were given a colorful Let’s Go Local T-shirt. Participants walked or ran 5 km through Kolonia town.

The fun run is an amusing way for the community to come together to learn about health, and also to get some great exercise. Participants included members of the College of Micronesia-FSM, Upward Bound students, local members of the high school track teams, and others. The event was opened by Moses Pretrick, IFCP Vice Chairman.

There were four categories of winners, who received prizes such as shovels, spades, and machetes used for growing food. There were also ten raffle drawing winners who happily received prizes such as Karat, Daiwang, and other bananas, taro, and live mangrove crabs. The prizes were in line with the theme of IFCP, which is to “Go Local.” The message encourages people to eat more local foods and fewer imported items.

Pohnpei State Lieutenant Governor Churchill Edward presented the prizes, along with Moses Pretrick.

Fun Run winners were:

Overall Winners:                                  Male: Rendy Germinaro

                                                                Female: Mary Linda Alexander

Master Division:                                  Male: Gary Bloom

                                                                Female: Elena Yamada

12 years and under:                            Male: Richen Jacob

                                                                Female: Mary Linda Alexander

High School/ Upward Bound:           Male: Yoshimi Saimon

                                                                Female: Janet Abraham

Special thanks to all participants and to the US Forestry Go Local Project, the Global Environment Facility Small Grant Program and SPC Healthy Pacific Lifestyles, and the FSM NOC team for all their support.

Let’s Go Local!