On Saturday, Oct. 13 a charity event will take place at the Convocation Center and Rynearson Stadium. The What About You Run and Walk is special, not only because it is taking place for the first time on Eastern Michigan University’s campus, but because of the nature of the charity. Participants can walk and run the five-kilometer event, or walk the one-mile trek for any charity of their choice.
The event’s head organizer Christie Clipper said she created the walk because everyone has a right to live the best life they can.
“The idea of a best life is different for everyone, and in our method of donation, participants have the freedom to choose what they want to support,” Clipper said.
Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Convocation Center, located at 799 N. Hewitt Road, just follow the green balloons marking the way.
From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. there will be a charity expo and health and wellness fair. The opening ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m., and the 5K run and 1 mile walk at the stadium will begin at 10:50 a.m. and 10:55 a.m. respectively.
At 11:45 a.m. there will be a free lunch for participants, sponsors and volunteers, and from 12-12:45 p.m. there will be event announcements, presentations by charities, community supporters and prize giveaways. Finally, the Eastern Michigan Eagles face off against the Toledo Rockets at 1:00 p.m. at Rynearson Stadium.
All event participants and volunteers will receive a free ticket to
the game, and they get to stay on the field and watch the game from the best seats in the house.
“We chose this weekend hoping to draw from the Ohio crowd,” Clipper said.
“It really creates networking opportunities for charities. Making the world a little smaller makes such a difference, as the charities will be acknowledged at the football game,” she said.
The event, which took place at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor in previous years, is focused on looking at a person’s whole well being. Some of the charities include the SafeHouse Center for victims of domestic abuse; Lost Voices, which provides creative journeys for youth at risk; and Therepaws of Michigan. However, if you have another charity in mind, if it meets the criteria, then it will be accepted.
“People, whether participant or sponsor, together we are the difference,” Clipper said when describing her outlook on the charity itself.
Participants will be working their legs and pumping their lungs in an effort to make the world a better place. Stop by if you have the time to support the cause of generosity and compassion. If you’re at the football game, you’re sure to catch a glimpse of event supporters, volunteers and participants—and Swoop the Eagle should be among them.