Triston McKenzie is official ambassador for the June 25 Race for Kids at the zoo

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie will be the official ambassador for the June 25 Race for Kids, a 5k run and 1-mile walk at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio.

McKenzie’s relationship with the Clubs dates back to 2018, when he was pitching for the Akron RubberDucks. He visited the Broadway Club in Cleveland, reading to younger children and chatting with teens, and later hosted a group of Club kids at a RubberDucks game at Canal Park.

The right-hander has since done question-and-answer sessions with Club kids and during the pandemic helped promote BGCNEO’s ClubSmart Learning Centers for youth learning virtually.

“I have seen first-hand the benefits kids get from going to Boys & Girls Clubs and am honored to serve as ambassador,” McKenzie said. “This will be a great family event. I encourage you to participate in the run or the walk, then enjoy a day at the zoo.”

All runners and walkers receive an official race T-shirt and free entry to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for the day. If your whole family wants to participate, select the 1-mile walk and choose multi-person pricing for a discount on registration for the whole family.

To register, visit www.bgcneo.org or click on https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Cleveland/RaceforKidsandWellness5k.

Boys & Girls Clubs provide safe, fun places for kids ages 6-18 after school with a focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character development. BGCNEO was formed by the 2019 merger of Clubs in Akron, Cleveland, Lorain County and Erie County. It now has 48 Clubs in five counties.