The Graduate Marketing Association, a group within the University’s MBA program, will host its first April Fools’ 5K Run/Walk this Sunday. The race will take place at noon at the University of Illinois Arboretum.
“We are hosting the event to raise money and awareness. All the proceeds from the event are going to benefit the Kola Foundation,” said James Cantu, student in the MBA program and director of fundraising and special events for Kola Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of young people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
He said the money will be specifically allocated to bringing three high school students to the University this summer to study in the
ACES research program.
“This is going to be used to pay for their expenses of getting here,” Cantu said. “We want to let them be exposed to something that they have never been exposed to before and then to go back and share that with all their friends, families and teachers. We are letting them know that there are people who are willing to help.”
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Currently, 86 people have registered for the event online and have paid the $25 registration fee.
“We thought that (online registration) was the best way to reach not just the students at the University, but the community in general,” said Trent Pelman, chief marketing officer for Kola Foundation and MBA student. “The planning process has been pretty simple. Everyone we work with is very gracious and we also get three sponsors for the event: CrossFit CU, Body’N Sole and Community Insurance Agency.
20 volunteers are helping to host Sunday’s event, including a few MBA students. They will be passing out registration packets and t-shirts, registering participants and collecting money, Pelman said.
Cantu encourages everyone to participate in the event.
“It’s a fun-filled event where people are going to have fun with it and have an experience that they wouldn’t traditionally have had before,” Cantu said.
Chengyi Zhang, junior in engineering, is interested in the event and has already registered.
“I have never done a 5K race before and I would like to have a try,” he said. “It’s a good chance for me to make a contribution to fundraising and participate in a fun-filled event.”
