On the evening of April 19, runners on campus and from the community lit up Murray State’s campus.
Sigma Sigma Sigma hosted the Glow Run on April 19th. Usually the organization hosts a Saturday morning 5K but decided to change it up this year.
“This was our first year to try the glow run,” said Sarah Hamby, sophomore from Mayfield, Ky., and member of Tri Sigma. “We wanted to find a different and fun way to get more people on and off campus involved.”
The Glow Run was held on Friday evening and started in front of the Carr Health Building. Participants began the race at 8 p.m. decked out in fluorescent colors. The runners had the chance to purchase glow sticks to run with before the event as well.
“We wanted a huge turnout for our 5K,” Hamby said. “So we thought a Glow Run on a Friday night would do just that, and thankfully it did.”
Participants choose to walk or run while registering. Some participants even brought their pets for moral support. According to Kathy Kopperud, Tri Sigma Chapter Adviser, 252 walkers and runners registered this year.
All proceeds raised typically go toward the Tri Sigma Foundation, who raise funds for polio research and funds child play therapy wings in two hospitals.
However, with recent events, the group decided to donate the majority of its profits to something different.
“Initially, it was intended for all funds raised to go to our philanthropy,” Kopperud said. “But immediately following the bombing at the Boston Marathon, our chapter decided that they wanted part of the proceeds to benefit the victims of that bombing.”
Kopperud added using the money raised in the 5K run for the Boston Marathon runners allows runners to help other runners in a time of need.
Overall, the event raised $3,100. The group has decided that $2,100 will be donated to aid the victims in Boston for their treatment and the other $1,000 will go to the Tri Sigma foundation.
Hamby said she believed the run was successful for several different reasons.
“There are not many 5Ks held at night and living in a college town that can be a problem,” Hamby said. “The glow sticks and neon colors made the 5K even more special and made it a memorable event a lot of the runners will probably never forget.”
Kopperrud agreed.
“I believe it is the first night glow run held on the Murray State Campus and it was unique and fun and had a lot of student involvement,” she said.
The students were not the only ones involved, however, the community came out to support the cause as well. According to Hamby, that was the greatest part of the event.
“Personally, my favorite part of the Glow Run was the wide variety of people that attended,” she said. “There are not many events that get Greek, non-Greek and non-college people involved. It was an event that brought a group of the community together. I think it will continue to grow and a larger variety of people will get involved.”
Story by Hunter Harrell, Staff writer.