Machinists Union's Everett fun run raises $12,000 for charity

EVERETT – The 11th annual Flight for Sight fun run brought in more than $12,000 for Guide Dogs of America, organizers said.

Nearly 140 runners took part in the June 2 event, which represented an increase of more than 70 percent over last year.

The race – and a non-competitive one-mile walk – were sponsored by the Women’s Committee of Machinists Union District Lodge 751. More than 80 union volunteers came together to put on the race, which was also supported by Boeing’s Facilities and Global Corporate Citizenship groups and by the Boeing Everett Recreation Center.

Guide Dogs of America is a California-based charity that provides service dogs to people who are blind or have impaired vision from across North America. District 751 is the top fundraiser for the organization.

“We had great support from our sponsors and volunteers,” said Grace Holland, the Women’s Committee chairwoman. “It was a really good day, and we raised a lot of money for a really great cause.”

Originally formed in 1935 to represent hourly workers at Boeing, District Lodge 751 of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers now represents some 32,000 working men and women at 48 employers across Washington, Oregon and California. In 2011, members of the union’s Machinists Volunteer Program donated more than 10,000 hours to community service work, while other volunteers raised more than $263,000 for Guide Dogs of America, the union’s charity of choice.

For more information about District 751, read the Machinists News.