On Thursday, March 18, our household received a postcard informing us of road closures and traffic delays due to the Rotary Half Marathon race on Sunday morning, March 22. I have a problem with not only the untimely notice of this “inconvenience,” three days prior to the event, but where the proceeds from this event are designated to go.

During this event, it is near impossible for those of us who live off of East or West Mercer Way to get anywhere in a timely fashion. Since this event greatly inconveniences Mercer Island residents and it is a Mercer Island Rotary event, why are the proceeds from the race going to off-Island charities? The Rotary’s postcard stated that the money raised would go to “fight colon cancer and support Rotary charities around the world.”

Why are the funds not staying on the Island to support Mercer Island community services? Projects such as Youth & Family Services and the Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club and senior programs certainly could use additional funds. In this time of need, we should be taking care of our own. Who granted permission for this event? Were they aware that the funds would go off-Island?

Jane G. Urner