Scared Pink 5K Fun Run: UHCL community run to support breast cancer awareness

By the close of 2016, over 40,000 women are expected to die because of breast cancer-related complications. Another 246,660 cases of women with invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed by the end of the year.

Because of statistics like these, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created in 1985 to help raise funds for research and treatment. Over 30 years later, efforts to help spread the awareness of breast cancer continue.

On Oct. 23, the Scared Pink 5K Fun Run is being hosted on the UHCL campus to further contribute to this cause.

The run started off as a collaboration between the Student Parents’ Association (SPA) and the Women Studies Student Association (WSSA). It has since transformed into a much larger effort between 16 different student organizations.

Sara Ray, the president of SPA, has been directly involved in the planning for the Scared Pink 5K Fun Run since its inception. This will be the first year for the run.

“We discussed doing a fun run for breast cancer research at a SPA meeting and then at a WSSA meeting,” Ray said. “We wanted to do something fun that would bring the community and school together and also to support a good cause.”

Among these supporting student organizations is the Early Childhood Hawk Organization (ECHO).

“We were looking for fun fall-time activities to get the entire organization involved in,” said Kasey Gray, president of ECHO. “When we heard from our SGA rep that they had discussed the Scared Pink 5K Fun Run in the meeting, we jumped at the opportunity to sign up.”

ECHO has plans to arrive at the event early to help set up tables for registration and to provide water to the participants. They have also encouraged their own members to participate in the actual run/walk portion of the event.

Each organization, including SPA and ECHO, has also volunteered to host a variety of activity booths to help raise the necessary funds. The Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority is hosting a face-painting booth, and the UHCL Spirit Squad will be present to cheer on the runners.

The Soccer Club is another student organization that will be present at the Scared Pink 5K Fun Run. They will be stationed at trick-or-treat spots during the run and will hand out a variety of snacks, candy and water to the participants.

“Since we’re a new club to the school, I wanted to get us engaged in as many of the on-campus opportunities as I can,” said Austin Rominger, president of the Soccer Club. “It helps us and other students meet others, make new friends and network with each other.”

All the proceeds raised at the event, including the runner’s registration fee, will go to The Rose, a local nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing access to screening, diagnostics and treatment to all women suffering from breast cancer.

Elyse Miller, the special events coordinator for The Rose said these types of charity runs are all extremely helpful.

“Having funds from events like these will help us get health care to the women who need it, such as those without insurance,” Miller said. “Every dollar helps.”

“We wanted to choose a local foundation,” said Tri Nguyen, Student Government Association director of external affairs. “We wanted to show support for our community.”

Nguyen has a personal stake in the run. His mother is a survivor of breast cancer.

“If it wasn’t for events like these,” Nguyen said. “My mother wouldn’t be alive today.”

Registration for the event will end at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 22.

The run, held Oct. 23, will begin at 9 a.m. on the UHCL main campus. All runners should be expected to show up around 8 a.m. and all volunteers should arrive around 7 a.m. to help prepare for the event.

The starting line will be in front of SSCB in parking lot D. The campus police are working with the event planners and will be closing off entrance 2 to direct the flow of traffic. All volunteers and participants will need to use entrance 3 to enter the campus.

Donations are not necessarily required to attend the event, but it is recommended. All those who plan on running at the event are required to pay a registration fee of $25. As a bonus, all those who do register for the run will receive a T-shirt with the logos of all participating student organizations printed on it.

For more information about the Scared Pink 5K Fun Run, visit https://www.facebook.com/scaredpinkfunrun and for all registration and donation information, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Houston/ScaredPinkFunRun.