Nationally Syndicated Cartoonist to Lace Up for Burton Fun Run

The sixth annual Burton Fun Run on Friday will feature guest runner Jef Mallett of Huntington Woods, the creator of nationally syndicated comic strip Frazz.

The event, which will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Burton Elementary School track, serves as the Parent Teacher Association's largest fundraiser. The group hopes to raise $25,000 this year, according to the Burton Fun Run website.

[Stay tuned to Berkley Patch for a photo gallery from the event!]

Mallett, the guest runner, also is the author and illustrator of the triathlon lifestyle book Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathlete.

Proceeds from the school's 2011 Burton Fun Run were used to provide field trips, in-house speakers, books, technologies and more, the website says.

"The vast majority of our funds will be raised by the students themselves; however, they cannot do it alone," the Burton Fun Run website says. "We are asking community and business leaders to contribute to their efforts to make the 2012 Fun Run our best Fun Run yet. The Burton PTA counts on proceeds from the Fun Run to fund most of our efforts at Burton School. Any money raised above and beyond our goal will go to the Burton Playground Endowment Fund."

If you would like to make a donation, go to www.burtonfunrun.org and click the donate button.