Before Philip Rivers takes the field for the Chargers’ Sept. 13 opener at Kansas City, locals will get one more chance to follow in the footsteps of the Bolts’ franchise quarterback. The inaugural Philip Rivers Celebrity 5K Walk and Fun Run will be held Saturday, Sept. 4 at NTC Park in Liberty Station in Point Loma. “It’s a great chance to see Philip Rivers up close and personal,” said Dave Miller, president of event promoters Integrated Sports Marketing. Rivers will be in attendance and walk at the event, fresh off the Chargers’ final preseason game Sept. 2 at San Francisco. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Rivers of Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization that Rivers and his wife, Tiffany, founded to find homes for unwanted, abandoned and orphaned children in San Diego County. “This is something the whole family can do together and it promotes good health and family bonding,” Miller said. “We thought this was kind of a unique way for [Philip] to do something here in San Diego that benefited families.” The 5K run begins at 8:15 a.m. with the walk starting 15 minutes after. After the race, an awards ceremony for the top-three male and female finishers older and younger than 40 will accompany a food court and family-themed music and entertainment at NTC Park. “It’s a great family event with lots of free activities,” Miller said. While Rivers won’t be signing autographs at the event, the first paid 1,000 adult race entrants will receive an autographed football card, along with a pair of earrings from Robere’s Jewelry. Adult entries are $40 before Sept. 1 and $45 after, while entries for children ages 4 to 12 are $20 before Sept. 1 and $25 after. “It is a great value,” Miller said. “People who sign up are going to get their money’s worth.” Miller said more than 800 registered walkers and runners have already signed up, and the goal is to have between 1,000 and 1,500 participants. When creating this event, Miller said Rivers wanted to do something that could include as many people as possible. “We’ve talked to Philip for a little while about doing something in San Diego and I think he finally felt comfortable with his status here to go ahead and do an event,” Miller said. “We met with him and he wanted to do something that would be inclusive for the community.” For more information or to register, visit www.philiprivers5k.com. Rivers of Hope Foundation is online at www.riversofhopefoundation.com.
