New Location, New Races for Ride and Run with the Stars

Every once in a while, it’s time for a change. Since 1993, The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s (PCSO) Ride and Run with the Stars has been held at the beautiful Fort De Soto Park. This year, for the first time, we’ll be holding one of the area’s largest law enforcement fundraising events in the vibrant city of Safety Harbor. Join us on Saturday, November 21 at the Safety Harbor Waterfront Park for a fun event for both families and serious runners and bicyclists.

All money raised at Ride and Run with the Stars goes to Pinellas County children and families in need through the Sheriff’s Christmas Sharing Project. The holiday season should be a magical time for all children, but far too many local children are in want, with no holiday feast on the table and no presents to bring them joy. Throughout the year, our deputies are out in the community, meeting families and hearing their stories. Our dedicated Victim Advocates help victims of domestic violence, burglary, and other crimes, and get to know who might need a little extra assistance. Our close ties with the community allow us to make sure families who are experiencing difficulties because of economic hardship or who are victims of crime get the holiday help they need.

We have an exciting lineup of events this year. For all ages and skill levels we have the one-mile Family Fun Run, where people can walk, jog, skip, skate, or even cartwheel along an easy and scenic route. People have been asking for some longer races, and we listened. In addition to our usual 5K run, we’ve also added a 10K run. For bicyclists, this year we have both a 10-mile and a 62-mile ride. 

If you’re coming to race, the fun starts early, with registration and check-in beginning at 6:00 a.m. and the first races starting at 7:00 a.m. But for those families who just want to support a worthy cause and have a great time doing it, the Family Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m. and there are lots of events and demonstrations that follow. At 10:00 a.m. one of our K-9 teams will give a demonstration, and at 10:30 a.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by helicopter. Kids can share their Christmas dreams with them and pose for photos. We’ll also have a kids’ midway area with bounce houses and other family-friendly activities, including displays from our robot and drone teams and our specialty law enforcement vehicles. 

Before Christmas, PCSO members are given wish lists from families in need and gather for a big shopping day. The kids ask for toys, electronics, bikes, and scooters. For younger kids, their parents often ask for educational toys, but they also request necessities like diapers, wipes, and bedding. Using funds raised at Ride and Run with the Stars, PCSO shoppers get as much as they can to make sure the kids have a great holiday season.

You can support Ride and Run with the Stars in a variety of ways. Visit our website, rideandrunwiththestars.com, to find out how to enter a race, donate to our basket raffle, or sponsor a family for the Christmas Sharing Project.