BY KAREN BOSSICK

Daryl Fauth likes to pair fun with tennies.

He started up the Hailey Turkey Trot—a fun run and walk that has grown enormously successful.

So, when he was fishing around for a fundraiser for Sun Valley Ballet School, he immediately thought of a new fun run that he dubbed Tutus and Tennis Shoes.

The 5K Fun Run/Walk will start at 9 a.m. Tuesday—July Fourth—in front of the Meriwether Building on North First Avenue north of Atkinsons’ Market in Hailey.

Cost is $25 for adults 18 and older and $15 for youth, with a $5 discount given for groups of four or more. (Cost increases by $5 on Race Day)

Entry includes a free post-race hot dog, beer or lemonade. Sign up at www.tutusandtennisshoes5k.com.

“My daughter Abby and my family have been involved with Sun Valley Ballet for more than eight years, volunteering at performances and filling onstage roles as ‘party boy’ or ‘party parent’ in ‘The Nutcracker.’ I am now the president of the Board of Directors for the Ballet and the board was looking for new ways to help raise funds. The idea for the fun run had been on the table for a couple of years and this year we finally decided to take it on, with the school giving out tutus to the first 40 to sign up,” said Fauth.

Fauth decided the morning of the Fourth of July was another one of those “captive audience” days where families and visitors are in town and there’s not much going on at 9 in the morning. The race would give people a chance to get out for a bit of exercise before they settle in for a day of watching mules on parade, taking part in barbecues and enjoying fireworks, he figured.

“Our goal was that for this first year we would hit about 60 participants and we’re halfway there,” he said. “The tutus are simply a great way to demonstrate that the proceeds from the race will go to Sun Valley Ballet.”

Sponsors include Blaine County Title, Blaine County Recreation District, The Elephant’s Perch, and Sawtooth Brewery.

For information about the Sun Valley Ballet School, go to www.sunvalleyballet.com.