Coinciding with National Trails Day, the Dungeness River Audubon Center Foundation hopes to bring locals to the Olympic Discovery Trail's second annual Walk-A-Thon/Bike-A-Thon on June 7.

The event, slated for noon-2 p.m., celebrates the completion of the Olympic Discovery Trail through Railroad Bridge Park; funds raised by participants benefit the park and the education programs of the river center.

The theme this year is "Ride or Stride the Trail for Fun." The route from Railroad Bridge Park to Sequim Middle School on the Olympic Discovery Trail is 1.5 miles. Walkers and bikers of any age are invited to participate and to travel as short or as long a distance as they wish. They and their sponsors can support the park and the center by pledging an amount per mile or by making a donation.

Three grand prizes are awarded: Most Money Raised, Most Miles Covered and Most Sponsors. In addition to grand prizes, those individuals raising the highest total donations in their age category will receive a first or second prize. Categories are: preschool, elementary (grades kindergarten-fifth), middle and high school (grades six-12), and adult. All sponsored participants receive a gift and refreshments are available at the event's end.

Coordinator Annette Hanson encourages families to walk or bike together for this event. Moms and dads can push baby strollers and seniors can hike with their walking sticks while heading down the Olympic Peninsula Discovery Trail. Children in fourth grade and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Monitors along the trail will supervise the participants and assist where needed.

"My goal on June 7 is to ride more than 50 miles on the Olympic Discovery Trail and raise at least $3,000 to support educational programs at the center," says Powell Jones, river center education coordinator.

Instructions for participants and sponsor sheets are available at the following locations: Dungeness River Audubon Center (2151 W. Hendrickson Road), the Sequim Boys & Girls Club (400 W. Fir St.), public and private school offices, and Mike's Bikes (150 West Sequim Bay Road).

Participants should check in at Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, on Saturday, June 7, between 11:30 and noon.

For more information, call the Dungeness River Audubon Center at 681-4076.