There are many events taking place on the Fourth of July in celebration of Independence Day, and at least one of them will work off a few pounds gained from picnicking.

“Four on the Fourth” is a run through Ames’ Ada Hayden Heritage Park to benefit Iowa’s Friendship Ark Homes.

Craig Rover with Championship Productions, said the idea came from Bill Bergan, owner of the company, and Darryl Bennett, vice-president.

Bergan is also the president of Friendship Ark, which is a private, non-profit organization established to provide residential and community support for persons with mental retardation in Central Iowa.

“Bill is very involved with that, and he was looking for a fundraiser,” Rover said. “Our company is sports-based, so a run seemed very appropriate.”

“Four on the Fourth” is an appropriate name for the event because two different runs are being held. One will cover four miles, the other two and a half miles, or four kilometers.

“This is the first time for it,” Rover said. “If it is successful, then we hope to have it again next year.”

There is a $25 entry fee to participate, but $12 of that will go to Friendship Ark and can be tax-deducted since it is a donation.

The remaining money will go to cover the post-race refreshments, T-shirts and other awards. A fitness clinic is being held immediately following both races.

Rover said both races feature 16 divisions, eight female and eight male, with each further divided into age groups. The top three finishers in each will receive a decorated mug with the “Four on the Fourth” logo engraved on it.

The T-shirts, Rover said, are “very neat.”

“These shirts are bright red with a very festive “Four on the Fourth” on the front,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of red race shirts out there, so these should stand out.”

Although it is being considered a race, Rover said people don’t have to race in order to participate.

He said the best way for people to sign up is at www.active.com, but forms are available all throughout Ames.

Rover said the four-mile race is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. with the four-kilometer race set to begin 15 minutes later.