United Way of Bedford County will partner with Bedford County Health Council to turn its annual child safety day into a health and safety festival including a health fair and a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run.

The plan was discussed at the United Way Board of Directors meeting Wednesday.

The event will be held Oct. 25 at H.V. Griffin Park and the Shelbyville Recreation Center.

For the past two years, United Way has hosted a child safety day at the park, distributing child identification kits and teaching children about safety with displays from local fire departments and emergency agencies. Inflatable attractions and refreshments helped attract visitors.

On a separate day last fall, United Way hosted a car safety seat inspection day at Wal-Mart.

At a previous meeting, United Way board member Ron Fausnaught had suggested combining those events with a "5-K" run, and perhaps other health-related activities. Dawn Holley, executive director of United Way, is also a member of the health council, and when some health council members suggested holding a health fair and a running race in the fall Holley suggested the two groups combine their efforts.

The event as now planned would include child safety events and car seat safety checks in the park, a health fair inside Shelbyville Recreation Center, and a 5-K run beginning and ending in the park. The route of the 5-K run would be mostly on residential streets.

Fausnaught and United Way board member Brian Nicholson of Shelbyville Fire Department, a key organizer of the past Child Safety Day events, told the United Way board on Wednesday that Bedford County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department have been enthusiastic and supportive. EMA will provide crowd and traffic control.

"Everything is moving in a positive direction," said Nicholson.