Fans and supporters cheered and shouted early Saturday at Memorial Stadium not for a football game, but for the more than 1,400 runners who crossed the finish line of the inaugural 13.1-mile IU Mini-Marathon.
Participants from 25 states took part in the race, and hundreds more joined in for the 5K run and other weekend activities.
Proceeds from the weekend will go to a scholarship fund to help cancer survivors attend IU.
The IU student group Circle of Life organized the races in addition to various other activities to raise money for a scholarship fund to honor Bill Z. Littlefield, a Kelley School of Business professor who died of cancer last year.
At press time, senior Kevin MacCauley, president and chief executive officer of Circle of Life, said it was too early to tell how much money had been raised for the scholarship. However, he said he was happy with the turnout.
Circle of Life collaborated with the Kelley School of Business to honor Littlefield. Many business school professors and students participated in the event, including Dean Dan Smith. Smith run in the 5K with his wife and family dog.