Students and faculty who are often found running in the exercise room or on Feaster Trail can now run for the cure. For the third straight year, the EEE pledge class will host the Be Cancer Freee 5K Run. The event will be held on the intramural fields at 8:30 a.m. this Saturday.
In addition to raising money for cancer research and the EEE pledge class, the $15 entry fee will provide a T-shirt to participants and prize money to top finishers. First place finishers in each running division will receive $75 with 2nd and 3rd places receiving $35 and $25 respectively.
While clothing and cash are incentives by themselves, the real motivation is to help find a cure for cancer.
“A lot of people don’t realize something simple like running a race can be effective,” said Meg Hart, a sophomore accounting major and member of EEE. “Even a few dollars can save lives.”
Leah Whitlow, the winner of last year’s event, encourages everyone to participate.
For Whitlow, the fight against cancer has become more personal than ever. Her aunt was recently diagnosed with cancer, along with her father’s best friend.
While the run is the main event, many past participants have found that the best aspect is not the run itself but the community that surrounds it.
“The best part is definitely everyone hanging out together,” said Emily Morgan, who was in the pledge class that started the run. “Last year there was good weather and it was really fun.”
Two years ago the EEE pledge class decided to hold a fun run as a fundraiser. In order to involve and give back to the community, they decided to partner with the Relay For Life of the American Cancer Society to help fight the disease, spread awareness and celebrate those who have battled cancer.
The first event was a major success, and it has grown every year since then. Last year there were around 100 participants.
This is not only an event for social clubs either. Everyone is invited, and only around 40 percent of last year’s runners came from social clubs.
People who don’t want to participate in the event can still donate to Relay For Life online at http://www.relayforlife.org/getInvolved/donate/index.
