More than 115 runners and 100 volunteers gathered on Sunday, Sept. 28, to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at the Student Nurses Association’s first Childhood Cancer Awareness 5K Ribbon Run.
The Student Nurses Association hosted the event in Lot 13, outside the Lupton Baseball Stadium, to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Participants wore yellow ribbons and buttons to show their support.
“I think this is the most support I’ve seen from our community, personally, for a cause I’m so passionate about, and I think we had over 115 runners,” Shelby Sannar, a senior nursing major and the community service chair for SNA, said. “We had almost 100 volunteers and it’s just showing how passionate everyone is about not only childhood cancer awareness, but also working out and finding community.”
SNA partnered with Frogs for Pediatrics, Frogs Fighting Cancer and the TCU Wellness Society to host the event.
“We hope that our efforts help contribute to this research and the steps currently being taken to fight these diseases, specifically childhood cancer,” Kate Roeber, a sophomore nursing major and SNA executive board member, said.
The marching band played as the runners started the race at 9 a.m. The course circled from Lot 13, around Greek Village, and back to Lot 13. Six fueling stations provided water and snacks along the route for participants.
SNA volunteers cheered and held encouraging signs throughout the race, welcoming runners of all speeds and experience levels.
“Seeing all these people come together to support such an amazing cause by participating in the race showed me the strong sense of community TCU has,” Callie Lizack, a junior nursing major and SNA member, said. “It was awesome to see how encouraging and supportive everyone was towards childhood cancer awareness.”
SNA hosts blood drives, donation drives and volunteers at healthcare settings throughout the DFW area to give members real-world experiences while benefiting the community.
“We do our best to offer our members experiences to prepare them for their future while also creating a positive impact on our community,” Roeber said.
