Photos: America's 5K and Mile Fun Run, A Fourth of July Celebration in downtown Anderson

In the summer of 2010, First Flight started by inspiring people who have never finished a 5K to do so.

First Flight was born from the team’s dedication to building a more robust and healthier community, a mission with proceeds from the run going to scholarships for kids in the community through the O.A.K (Operation Active Kids) program.

“We are not a running club. First Flight has helped hundreds of beginners to cross a first finish line. Since 2014, when the scholarship program started, the program has given $93,430," said Alison Youngblood in a statement before the Saturday, July 6 event.

Following a one-mile fun run with nearly 100 runners, the 5K run lasted one hour. 257 participants finished the run, which was just over three miles long, and started in front of the Anderson County Courthouse, heading north on Main Street to Henry Street and back.

Vets Helping Vets in Anderson provided extra course protection while Anderson police helped with traffic. The fire department provided water—a spray for runners to dash through as the heat was 85 degrees and rising—and a U.S. flag was displayed on the tip of the extended ladder truck.

Nathan Spray, 13, of Anderson, wore an Uncle Sam costume he ordered just for the 5K run "for fun, to be festive," he said.

"I started really running after this last year," he said.

Spray said he liked what the foundation does to help youth with scholarships to play recreational sports.

Local runners fared well in the 5K run, with Michael Derazi, 28, of Anderson, winning overall in 16:41.47. Overall female winner and fourth overall was Madison Timms, 18, a TL Hanna High graduate and incoming freshman student-athlete runner at Clemson University, with a time of 19:27.65.

"The great purpose today is to inspire First Steps, to motivate kids to get out and do sports, and that's what we're here for with First Flight Alliance and OAK: to help kids take those first steps, to inspire our youth, our communities to come together, celebrate today and all that it stands for, and to enjoy each other and enjoy Anderson," said Michelle Gregory, with First Flight Alliance and OAK.

Jacob Lewis volunteered for several years and later ran as a collegiate athlete at Spartanburg Methodist. His mother, Dawn Lowe, said that the race was to bring awareness to the Jacob Lewis Foundation and awareness of Fentanyl, a drug that claimed his life.

"While he was in college, (he) got sidetracked, did some usage and ended up passing from an overdose with Fentanyl," she said. "We have created this foundation to honor him, to spread awareness that this is something that affects everybody in every home, everybody is touched by it and it's something that we need to talk about."

The foundation offers one scholarship a year in the state for a community volunteer and a runner.

"This year, the one is going to be a runner for Anderson University. So that really affected us. His coach said he lights up a room when he walks in and that's what our son exactly did," she said.

At the award ceremony after both runs, Eddie Wedgewood, a Wren High graduate and incoming freshman at Anderson University, was presented a $1,000 check.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Photos: America's 5K and Mile Fun Run, A Fourth of July Celebration in downtown Anderson