KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010 / NEWS
17
Dog Days sponsors charity runs
BY SHANNA LARSON
slarson@kansan.com
Red Dog's Dog Days summer workouts are coming to an end, but the program sponsors several 5K walks and runs for special events.
Students have three chances to run, walk or volunteer after Dog Days ends: Red Dog Run for the Boys and Girls Club on Aug. 8, Small Town Big Cause of Baldwin City on Aug. 28, and Small Town Big Cause of Eudora on Sept. 25.
The Small Town Big Cause 5K run/ walks are put on by Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
"We wanted to do something kind of health and fitness related, and we want the community to be healthy." Melissa Hess, development specialist for the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association, said.
Students can run in these events as individuals or as a team. Hess said the endowment was trying to find more ways for students to be involved in the races.
"I love that there are scheduled runs for people in the area, and it is fun to run with my friends." Conwell said.
Hess said they would give out a prize for the largest group of students that participate in the 5K.
"He has helped us in planning the 5K walks," she said. "He is very involved with keeping the community healthy."
The Small Town Big Cause 5k run/walks have a $25 entry fee. Hess said tstudents who aren't interested in running could volunteer instead by helping with a number of different things, such as organizing the event and assisting people at the finish line or water stops.
Shannon Conwell, a junior from Topeka, said she's ran the 5K races every year since attending the University.
"Sororities, fraternities, clubs, roommates — any group that wants to participate can compete for the prize." Hess said.
Hess said Don "Red Dog" Gardner, one of the Dog Days founders, had always been a friend to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Gardner and Lawrence Memorial Hospital host the events to keep the community and students healthy.
"We want to keep people out of the hospital and we love when students get involved," Hess said. "This is their community hospital while they are in school and we want to keep them healthy too."
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Participants warm up during a Dog Days workout in the field east of Robinson Gymnasium. The community fitness program will sponsor three upcoming 5k run/walks.