A 5K run/walk will be held Saturday to support the Faith and Fitness Center at First Baptist Church in Ironton.

The Faith & Fitness 5K Run/Walk will be at 8 a.m. Saturday.

“We’re trying to pay off the mortgage and have money to run the building,” Michael Gleichauf, race organizer, said.

The Faith and Fitness Center opened in August of 2008. Though it’s affiliated with First Baptist Church, the center is an entity of its own. The gymnasium in the center is used for Upward basketball and other sports. It’s open to members of the public who want to workout there as well, she said.

So far, the race has raised $5,000 minus expenses through advertising and donations. Thirty-eight people have signed up for the race as well.

Several of the participants are from Ironton but the runners and walkers are also coming from Kentucky, Tennessee and other communities including Coal Grove and Proctorville.

“They’re all over the place,” Gleichauf said.

During the race, the streets in downtown Ironton will be closed from 8 to 9 a.m.

The race will start in front of the fitness center at the intersection of Fourth and Vernon streets. Participants will go north on Fourth Street to Etna Street and then turn left and then right onto Second Street.

Then they’ll turn right onto Elm Street which will lead to Fifth Street. Runners will then go south on Fifth Street, right on Quincy then right onto Fourth Street and end in front of the fitness center.

Registration is $20. Race day registration is from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m.