Community gathers for annual 5K run

More than 1,000 students, faculty and community members will start and end a 5K run/walk at a Memorial Stadium endzone Saturday, all to help to find missing student Jill Behrman and to support her family and friends.\nThe six-year-old event, which added Behrman's name to the event two years ago, is sponsored by the IU Division of Recreational Sports. The gun goes off at 10 a.m. for the 5K (3.1 miles) run and 5K non-competitive walk. A one-mile walk will take place at 10:10 a.m. for families with children.\nAlready more than 1,000 people have pre-registered, including 21 teams. Registration on race day will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Mellencamp Pavilion, on Fess Street next to the stadium. Costs are $18 for the run and $13 for the walk. \nAll proceeds will benefit the Jill Behrman Emerging Leadership Scholarship fund and the Jill Behrman Fund, a $100,00 reward fund being offered information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Jill's disappearance.\nBehrman, an IU student who worked at the Student Recreational Sports Center, has been missing since May, 31, 2000. \nJill's parents, Marilyn and Eric Behrman, and her brother Brian will participate in the event. The couple began the fund to raise awareness of their missing daughter.\n"Many friends from the University and the community contributed," said Eric Behrman, who works for the IU Alumni Association. "Within a few days the fund had $25,000 and after a few months, $50,000." Marilyn works with the IU Foundation.\nLive music by the African-American Choral Ensemble, Ladies First and The Dew Daddies will kick off the festivities. The event will feature children's activities, safety information booths, a climbing wall, free refreshments and door prizes for all participants. \n"We've been planning the event since February 2001," said Kimberly Ruff, a spokeswoman for the Division of Recreational Sports. "There will be finish line prizes, face-painting for children, a Health and Safety Fair and even a climbing wall."\nPrizes will be awarded to the over-all male and female winners. Top winners in each of the eight age divisions for the 5K run will be awarded as well.\nFor the first time, teams from local businesses, residence halls, greek houses and other campus groups will be competing for the most creatively attired group.\n"This year we started the team division," said Chris Geary, assistant director of special events. "There are six divisions: community/business, residence halls, community schools, greek teams and other campus teams."\nThe School of Public and Environmental Affairs has registered the largest team with 39 members. Twenty-one Bloomington South female basketball players and their coaches have registered and cadet troop 11 registered its members and troop leaders.\nThe varsity women's basketball team, women's water polo team and women's cross country team also plan to volunteer their time to help out at the event.\nAnother feature, because of the tragic events of Sept. 11, is the Wall of Hope. Participants can write down their hopes, thoughts and prayers for the Behrmans and America.