For the first time Housing & Habitats annual 5k Home Run is in collaboration with another service group, Care for Paws. Care for Paws is a service group that focuses on rescuing, informing, and vaccinating unfortunate dogs and cats in Sri Lanka. The Home Run is an event created by the Housing & Habitat group as a fundraiser for future projects including providing electricity or making chairs. This year we made a incredible amount of around 70 thousand rupees from the 500 rupees deposit when joining the run. This year we invited both runners and dogs to join us in the Home Run. For this project the H&H planned the course of the run, made requirements for positions/stations, and brought refreshments alongside the event.

This year was my 3rd time coming to the 5k Home Run however, my first year organising it. I thought that we did we did a great job and I saw many contenders happy about the event. We tried to make sure that we took care of the dogs during the run by accommodating them with dog water bowls at each stop with 2 members from the H&H or Care for Paws if anyone needed help in any way. Personally, I was there biking trying to keep up with the head of the runners, Louis which was very tough. I managed to stop at one turning point where many runners got misguided. My job was basically a messenger or communicator, by retrieving something that needs extra like cups or if anyone got hurt and needed the truck. This year there was one casualty which the dog got a cut on his paw. We managed to get the dog into the truck however due to the long run and over-tiredness he sadly passed away hours after the run by a heart attack. My condolences go to Ritheek the dogs owner.

I believe that next time if we invite dogs to come for the 5k Home Run that we announce that 5k is a long run and not all dogs have the stamina to finish it. Being careful of the surrounding for broken glass or nails is also very important especially for the dogs. We need to discuss as a group if next time dogs will be allowed to come since its not nice to have something bad happening again.

Overall, It was a really enjoyable first experience and I had loads of fun with my H&H crew. We managed to gain a great amount for our future projects and we are thankful for all the help we got from the cleaning department and the school for making the event such a success.