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Inaugural 5K provides for charities

After many requests for Liberty University’s Student Activities (SA) to hold charity runs, a 5K to benefit seven charities will take place April 25 at 9 a.m. starting and ending at the Vines Center.

“We frequently get requests to put races on for Student Government Association (SGA) clubs,” Yeoman said. “We could never support multiple races per semester, (so) we decided to create one event that would provide an opportunity for all SGA club charities.”

The charities participating include The Eliminate Project, Operation Christmas Child, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Wycliffe, Freedom 4/24, Young Life Central Virginia and International Justice Mission.

SA held an open registration period at the beginning of the spring 2015 semester for any SGA clubs wanting to participate in the race, Yeoman said.

According to Yeoman, each participant may choose between one of seven charities to give donations. Five dollars from each race entry will go straight to the charity of the participants’ choosing.

This race differs from other SA races in that the entirety of the race is run on the road instead of the Liberty Mountain Trail System. The reason for this is that more people enjoy races on a paved course, Yeoman said.

“We wanted this particular event to appeal to the broadest audience and having (the race) held on roads achieves this,” Yeoman said. “The location was also chosen so the event could be a centerpiece of campus on that Saturday morning. If you are on campus, you will see what is going on, so the location also helps to increase spectators.”

While this is not the first race to be held on Liberty’s campus, Yeoman said the Charity 5K race will be the primary race on campus roads as SA plans future race events.

Yeoman anticipates more than 200 runners taking part in the Charity 5K race this year but believes there will be opportunity for growth for this race in the coming years.

According to Yeoman, the course for the Charity 5K race is friendly for runners of all types and ages.

Students can register for the Charity 5K race for $15 before race day and the public can register for $20.

For more information on how to sign up for the Charity 5K run, visit liberty.edu/races.

BUNNER is a feature reporter.

FYI
Due to the anticipated size of the race, strollers, baby joggers, and pets on leashes are prohibited according to the SA website.

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