Students get ready to 'Run for the Endzone'

More than 1,000 people will crowd Memorial Stadium on Saturday, but it won't be to watch the IU football team. They will gather for the start of this year's Jill Behrman Run for the End Zone.\nPre-registration for the event ends today. On-site registration will start at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the Mellencamp Pavilion. The team registration deadline has passed.\nThe Run for the End Zone 5K run and walk was started in 1996 by the Division of Recreational Sports. The event is now held in honor of Jill Behrman, former IU student and RecSports employee. Behrman disappeared while on a morning bike ride in May 2000. Her remains were found near Martinsville this past March. \nLast year, the Run for the End Zone drew 1,500 people, including IU students, faculty, staff and members of the Bloomington community. Participants can competitively run or non-competitively walk the 5K course across campus, or walk a mile instead. The race begins and ends in the end zone at Memorial Stadium. \nJunior Lauren Chaney said she is running in the event for the first time. \n"Every year it's such a huge event," she said. "This year I feel like I will be contributing something. I even get a free T-shirt."\nContributions include the $10 to $20 registration fee, depending on the race and the time of registration. The 5K run is now $20, and the 5K walk and the mile are both $15. Last year, the event raised $15,000, with proceeds going to Jill's House and the Jill Behrman Emerging Leader Scholarship. \nThe purpose of Jill's House is to provide a free, temporary home-like residence for cancer patients undergoing outpatient therapy at the IU Proton Therapy facility. If enough money is raised, construction will start in March 2004. \nThe $1,000 scholarship is sponsored by RecSports and Eric and Marilyn Behrman, Jill's parents. It will go to a full-time undergraduate student at IU who must be involved in RecSports and exhibit leadership abilities. Last year, the event raised enough money for two scholarships. \nRace director Joanne Orrange said one long-term goal of the event is to increase the number of scholarships given, as well as get them endowed.\n"The proceeds go to a great cause," Orrange said. She said adding the students' interests are really at heart.\nPrizes will be given in the 5K run for the overall male and female winners, as well as the top two male and female winners in each age division. \nA team must have five or more members, and the largest team in each category will receive a prize. The categories consist of community businesses, schools, community organizations, campus departments, residence halls, greek organizations and student organizations. There will be a prize for the most creatively attired team. Last year, the HPER Happy Feet team won, with a halo of dangling feet on each of their heads.\nAlaina Epperson raced with a team last year and laughs as she admits she was the only one who actually ran.\n"It was incredible," she said. "It was fun to run with my friends; some of them were friends with Jill."\nThe social aspect of the race makes it "incredibly fun," said Emily Ward, an employee of RecSports.\nWard designed a training routine specifically for the Run for the End Zone in RS Magazine, which can be found at the SRSC. She describes the event as a social race, a great cause and an opportunity for some to incorporate regular exercise into their daily lives. \n"It's a chance to participate in a huge event in the University community," Ward said. "And to stand in solidarity with the Behrman family." \nThe day does not end with the race. From 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, there will be a Wellness Fair in the Mellencamp Pavilion. Twenty-six vendors will present different dimensions of wellness. Some highlights include health screenings, a Tai Chi demonstration, personal trainers, massage therapy, door prizes and Wonderlab, a science center for children.\n"Overall, this is one of those events (that) even if you aren't a runner you can have a good time," Orrange said. \nAn auction for Jill's House will be presented at noon Saturday by the Bloomington Board of Realtors. Items being auctioned include a 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a hot air balloon ride, an autographed IU basketball and gift certificates. \nAlso supporting Jill's House is the Residence Hall Association, by sponsoring the 2003 IU Battle of the Bands. The event will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday in Dunn Meadow, and will feature Bloomington music talent, Domino's pizza and the Annual Car Bash. All proceeds from the event will go to Jill's House. \n-- Contact staff writer Lindhal Wiegand at laweigan@indiana.edu.