Raising awareness one stride at a time

When crossing the finish line, the 188 runners in the Coach Hep Indiana Cancer Challenge were greeted by eight women cheering them on with silver pom-poms in their hands and red shoelaces in their hair.

The Coach Hep Indiana Cancer Challenge was a 5K run; a 25K, 50K and 100K cycle; as well as a 2K memorial walk, on Saturday that took place throughout Bloomington and ended in the parking lot between Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall to raise money for cancer.

“This is a charity event in Coach Hep’s memory to raise awareness and money for cancer,” event volunteer Marlo Bowlon said.

In June 2007, IU’s 26th head football coach Terry Hoeppner died from brain cancer. While he was coach, Hep had a very big impact on IU football. He was known for his

“Coach Hep wants you!” posters that encouraged students to come to the football games, as well as his “Don’t quit” attitude.

When registering for the race, each volunteer and participant received a pair of red shoelaces.

The shoelaces symbolized that everyone has ties to cancer.

Many of the participants agreed that the cancer challenge event was a great way to raise awareness and honor family members that have died of cancer.

“I wanted to be part of an event that’s helping cancer research,” event participant Kim Coy said. “I was also running in honor of my grandfather who died three years ago from cancer.”

After the run and bike portions of the event were over, approximately 200 people, including three 500 Festival Princesses, participated in the 2K memorial walk with
Coach Hep’s wife, Jane Hoeppner, walking in front.

Coach Hep was also known by many as someone who brought together the community; this race was supposed to do that too.

“Coach Hep really united the IU and Bloomington community, and this race does that as well,” event volunteer Theresa Swihart said. “Anyone can participate and it really brings everyone together.”