It's a great way to shake off the winter doldrums. It's a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the family. It's a great way to unofficially kick off the local running season.

Officials of the Junior League of Lancaster want to use Run4Luck as a way to spread the word about the organization's volunteer training, action and collaboration programs.

"It's kind of like everyone coming out of hibernation," said Junior League of Lancaster president Laura McGarry. "It kind of kicks off the vibrant spring. We get outside, and we're doing something different. When you get outside, there are so many people there, and it kind of lifts up that spirit. It's a joyful, family, fun event."

This year's edition of the annual Run4Luck 4-mile run and 2-mile walk will be held at Baker Field, at the intersection of Wilson Drive and Clayton Road in School Lane Hills, Lancaster Township, on Saturday, March 8, beginning at 8 a.m. The event will serve as both a fundraiser and a "fun raiser" for the work of the Junior League of Lancaster, an all-volunteer organization located at 1130 Marietta Ave., Lancaster.

To register for Run4Luck, go to  https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Lancaster/Run4Luck2024. Participants can also register in person until 8:15 a.m. on the day of the race.

"It's like a big party," said McGarry. "It's just a big community event. Everyone is cheering everyone else. The excitement warms everyone up and keeps them moving."

The day's festivities will begin with kids' fun runs at 8 a.m., followed by the start of the 4-mile run at 8:30 a.m. and the 2-mile walk at 8:40 a.m. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Awards will be presented to the top finishers in various categories.

Participants and competitors are encouraged to dress up in their favorite St. Patty's/Irish garb, and the event will be enlivened by a mobile food pantry, which will be accepting monetary donations, and the presence of blow-up characters.

"The primary purpose of the event is to raise awareness and raise support for the work of the Junior League of Lancaster," said McGarry. "We also wanted it to be something for families to be involved with."

More than 500 individuals, mainly Lancaster County residents and Junior League of Lancaster volunteers and friends, are expected to participate. The Run4Luck course, which takes competitors through the scenic School Lane Hills neighborhoods and doesn't cross any main streets, begins and ends at Baker Field.

"(The participants and competitors) are people who have heard about the work of the Junior League," said McGarry. "They know if there's a problem in the community that the Junior League can be called to help. I think people know it's going to be a fun time for a good reason."

The Run4Luck was first staged in 2005 as a family-friendly way to raise funds for the nonprofit.

"All the proceeds will go toward the community focus area, to increase access to healthy and nutritious food and help improve the knowledge and dietary habits across all populations in Lancaster County," said McGarry. "The Junior League has always had a couple of cornerstone fundraisers."

The Junior League of Lancaster, which includes 90 active members and 280 sustaining members, was established in 1923, just a few short years after Junior League International was founded in New York City. Among the Junior League of Lancaster's goals are to advance women's leadership through volunteerism, training and collaboration.

The Junior League of Lancaster is funded through dues, corporate sponsorships, individual donors and the local efforts of ExtraGive. The Junior League is also currently developing a grant-writing program.

"We want to develop skills," said McGarry. "When a Junior Leaguer shows up to volunteer, they're going to know what they're doing. They're going to be able to hit the ground running. Our trained volunteers are going to be useful contributors to the community in a really meaningful way."