SANDPOINT — The rain took a break and the sun came out Sunday, creating a pretty nice day for those who braved the Chilly Cheeks Run to benefit the local schools' hot lunch programs and Fourth of July fireworks.

Event coordinator Aaron Walson said the event raised $773 dollars for the hot lunch program in the Lake Pend Oreille School District, as well as $257 for the Lions Club's Fourth of July fireworks show.

"Both organizations were absolutely ecstatic," Walson said. "Even though they were kind of smaller numbers than I was hoping, for the first event, I thought it went really, really well."

Walson said six people showed up with their motorcycles to make the run, although only one finished.

They started at North 40 and the full route continued on to Oldtown for a stop at Club Rio and moved on to Spirit Lake before heading back to A&P's for a chili cook-off and live and silent auctions. 

"We had a good turnout at the bar all day long," Walson said. 

The event started around noon and continued on into the evening as the bands RFB and Chris McLeod and the Faulty Few entertained the crowd with some live music, kids jumped in the bounce house and two competitors cooked up some "phenomenal" chili, Walson said.

"Just the rallying of community support was amazing," Yaw said.

Yaw said between 20 and 30 local companies donated items for the chili cook-off winners as well as the auction, including a one-night stay at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, wood carvings from Custom Creations, a gift certificate from Trinity at City Beach, a rain jacket from Larson's Department Store, and many more. She said several of the local auto places pitched in as well.

Walson said with the help of A&P's managers Yaw and James Mize, the event was successful for a first try and they plan to make it an annual event — though maybe a little later in the month next year.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.