Junior runs for kitchen funds

Colin Keith turned his love of running into a fundraising event for the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa last year.

Colin ran with his friend Garrett McRoberts in the 2007 race, and the boys raised more than $8,000 for Someone Cares.

“It’s more fun to support a cause if you really enjoy what you’re doing. Then you can help at the same time,” Colin said.

On Sunday, the Mater Dei High School junior will again participate in the Carlsbad Marathon, joined by family members inspired by the teen’s commitment to helping others.

Colin’s mom, aunt and grandmother will be walking a half marathon, and his dad and uncle will be running the half marathon.

Colin is a member of the track and cross-country teams at Mater Dei. He said choosing to run in the Carlsbad race is more about timing than anything else. When the cross-country season finished in early November, Colin was able to start training for the marathon right away, building up the endurance he’d need to complete the 26-mile course.

That meant short runs during the week, followed by 12- to 16-mile runs on Sundays.

Karen Keith said she is extremely proud of her son for the amount of time he has dedicated to fundraising for the soup kitchen.

Colin may be busy with school, work and sports, his mom said, but he mailed out more than 700 letters to potential sponsors and donors this year, based on a list the soup kitchen gave him, then e-mailed friends and family members as well. He won’t find out how much money he raised until about a week after the marathon.

Colin isn’t the only Keith involved with Someone Cares. Karen and her daughter, Andree, belong to the National Charity League, and began volunteering at the soup kitchen about three years ago.

“It’s one of the greatest programs,” Karen said, adding that her daughter always comes home inspired after volunteering her time there.

“The volunteers work seven days a week and feed more than 300 people a day.”

Shannon Santos, executive director of the soup kitchen, said all the volunteers are very supportive of Colin and that they are incredibly impressed by his commitment.

Colin incurred all the costs for soliciting donations, Santos said, in addition to surpassing all expectations when it came to the amount of money he raised for the organization in 2007.

“Last year they tentatively thought they’d raise $2,500, and we received $8,000. This year they’ve set their sights at doubling that,” Santos said.

Santos and her mom, Teri Hatleburg, will be at the race Sunday with the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen banner, she said, cheering on the Keith family as they approach the finish line in pursuit of their goal.

If you would like to help sponsor Colin or make a donation to the soup kitchen, visit the organization’s website at www.someonecareskitchen.org.

Checks may be mailed to Someone Cares Soup Kitchen at 720 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. Please include the word “marathon” in the memo field.

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.