Dash for Trash 2021 edition

Written By Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon

WestSide Stride’s Dash for Trash

 GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Tuesday, April 20 at 6 p.m. the WestSide Stride - a free weekly community pub run/walking group - will have a “plogging” (jogging while picking up litter) run/walk in honor of Earth Day. 

The WestSide Stride is a group of all fitness levels that get together on Bridge Street to exercise and enjoy the community. After taking a year off due to Covid -19 we are happy to be back at it, even if we are not able to go to eat together afterwards all together.

“One of our members, Charles Zhou, suggested putting this twist on our April 20th event a couple years ago,” said Jes Slaydon, pub run coordinator. “This is why I love this community, there is always someone with an idea and we just have so much fun running with it!” 

Plogging was started in Sweden in 2016 and has made its way around the world. The WestSide Stride is making a contest out of it. Teams will be formed and then there will be a prize for most trash collected, best photo taken with trash, and most unique find. One of our members, Mary Trendt, a RPO Refuse Recycle Packer Operator with the city, will be judging the most unique find. 

This is a free event. Patrons must register at https://www.swiftprinting.com/westside-signup

There are also shirts available for purchase.

After the plogging and awards, patrons are encouraged to go with their households to eat or get take out from Bridge Street restaurants. 

The free pub run/walk takes place every Tuesday, April through October, weather permitting. The 5K course includes many sites downtown and the WestSide.

The weekly event always starts at Swift Printing & Communications, Inc. (404 Bridge St. NW) 

 For more information please contact Jessica Slaydon at 616-915-5370 or jes@swiftprinting.com Please join our WestSide Stride facebook group. (http://goo.gl/pG0GE2) and follow on Instagram.  

Here’s a nice article MLIVE did on the event a couple years ago. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/04/runners-will-dash-for-trash-in-upcoming-5k.html

Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon

Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon is the president and a third-generation leader of Swift Printing, a commercial printing company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She works alongside her brother, Walt, helping West Michigan businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and organizations communicate through high-quality print, direct mail, signage, and custom marketing materials. Jessica is passionate about making printing approachable and helping customers choose the right solution for each project.

Learn more about Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon and her printing experience.

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