Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection to host 3rd annual fun run on Saturday

Published 10:30 pm Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection will host its third annual 5K Run for Recovery Fun Run this Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Deep Water Dock on the Homer Spit. The 5K is open to runners, walkers, and strollers and will be held in collaboration with the local running club. Borough Mayor Peter Micciche will join the event as the race start official and master of ceremonies.

To register online, visit kbayrecovery.org or come early to register in person, between 9 and 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. Early registration is $25 and increases to $35 the day of the race, although those cannot afford to donate for registration will not be turned away.

Walkers will begin at 10:30 a.m. with runners starting at 11.

After the fun run, a community celebration will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with awards gifted to participants, live music from Cody Birch, and food — including tamales from Mermaid Cafe, Italian sodas that benefit the Homer Mariners Snack Shack and baked goods from the Homer Middle School running team.

Peer Support Manager and founding member of KBRC, Jaclyn Rainwater, said during an interview Friday, Aug. 22, that prizes include round-trip water taxi rides from Coldwater Alaska, Bayweld Boat swag, Vida’s Thai Food gift cards, and hair salon certificates.

She said the reason they do these events is to celebrate people in recovery and normalize sobriety, noting that the more we talk about addiction, the less stigma there is connected to it.

“Sometimes people can think that it’s a moral failing,” she said. “That the people who struggle are bad people, but really it’s sick people who need to get well. So when we talk about these things and open the conversation, the shame and guilt go away. There’s more hope, and people can ask for help and get connected to a sober community.”

KBRC is a recovery community organization for people affected by addiction, offering recovery support, access to resources, and a fulfilling connection to a sober community from Ninilchik to Nanwalek. They work to prevent opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders, connect people to treatment and care, support harm reduction efforts, and provide recovery support.

Their building is located at 111 West Pioneer Avenue with an on-site staff of peer support specialists who are available to provide assistance to walk-ins Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with other times available by appointment.

At Monday’s Homer City Council meeting, Mayor Rachel Lord recognized KBRC’s work in a mayoral proclamation and encouraged Homer residents to participate in celebrating September as National Recovery Month.

You can learn more about KBRC at kbayrecovery.org or find them on Facebook as Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection. For more information, you can email info@kbayrecovery.org.