Knight-Thon, UCF's largest student-run philanthropy, got a head start on fundraising Sunday morning with the "We Run for the Kids" 5K event. More than 50 runners attended and raised $508 for the Children's Miracle Network.
Check-in for the event began at 8 a.m. on Memory Mall on campus. Many of the runners donated the suggested contribution of $10 when they registered for the event. Latoya Jackson, student director of the Knight-Thon executive board and a senior event management major, along with 14 other volunteers passed out water to the runners and cheered as each one completed the track.
"Most of the people here have no relation to Knight-Thon so it really shows when everyone comes together to help make it work for the kids," Jackson said.
Jackson has been involved in Knight-Thon since her freshman year and this is the first time Knight-Thon has done a 5K run. The event was advertised mostly through social networking websites and one student even volunteered to work as a disk jockey during the event.
Knight-Thon's special event manager Eddie Garcia, a junior public administration major, is involved in many events on campus, though he believes the charity events for children are the most fulfilling.
"It's a lot of planning but afterward you realize there is much more hope in their future," Garcia said. "It's the greatest reward."
Adam Brock, vice president of the student body and a senior double major in political science and advertising/public relations was one of the runners in attendance. Brock was also involved with Knight-Thon in his freshman year.
"These events create a lot of morale, not only for UCF but also for the cause," Brock said.
The event lasted close to two hours and the fastest runner received free tickets to Wet n' Wild and a medal. 3d Lasik, a sponsor of the event, was also handed out water and fruit to the runners in addition to entering them into a $2,500 giveaway.
Jackson noted that while she cannot release it yet, the fundraising goal for the events throughout the year will be higher than last year's. The philanthropy group raised more than 84,000 dollars for the Children's Miracle Network throughout last year. The next "We Run for the Kids" 5K run will take place in the Spring semester.
Knight-Thon will be March 31, 2012. For more information about Knight-Thon events, go to www.getinvolveducf.com/knight-thon.
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