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OTTUMWA -- It may have been chilly on Saturday morning but more than 40 runners and walkers came out for the first ever “Run to Fund” benefiting the Ottumwa Trails Council.

Organizers of the run wanted to raise funds specifically for the Trails Council’s desire to construct a pedestrian tunnel underneath US Hwy 34 to connect the levee trails with the Greater Ottumwa Park trail system.

“The trails are, we believe are a valuable asset to our community.  I mean we see people walking on them, biking on them all the time and it’s just a wonderful way to get people out of their house, off of the couch onto the trails and if we can do anything to promote physical activity and exercise that's what we want to do,” said Courtney Brown, organizer.

“And also I think a lot of people don't realize how much trails there actually are here in town. They see what's around the river but they don't really see the extension of it,” said Emily Anderson, organizer.

Brown and Anderson said they were very happy with the turnout this year and hope to have another “Run to Fund” next year.