Hoping to end the school year with a bang, the University of Hartford’s Alpha Phi Omega (APO) service fraternity is hosting a 5K Charity Run/Walk at the end of April to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer.
“I think it would be a nice way for people to end the semester,” Elizabeth Martin said, who serves as APO’s service vice president. “Maybe you’re not a runner and maybe you don’t like to be really active, but it’s your last weekend here in the Hartford area so it might be a nice way to finish the semester strong.”
Alpha Phi Omega is a national coeducational service organization founded on the principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service. The University of Hartford chapter has about 40 members and this year, they’ve helped out at Second Chance Ranch, A Hand up, Inc., U.S. Hunger, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Special Olympics and Hartford Marathon among others.
This time, APO wanted to host their own event to invite others to come help them for a good cause. Cancer relates to a lot of people, so they chose to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer, a charitable program that aims to raise funds for cancer research.
“I needed to come up with some idea that people would be like, ‘Wow, that’s so cool!’ What if we put our name on something and did something ourselves?” Martin said.
The race will take place at Blue Black Square in West Hartford and will be roughly a 3.1 mile course, with the event starting in front of The Cheesecake Factory, rounding around Raymond Road, coming across Park Road/Sedgwick Road, going up on Castlewood Road, cutting across Boulevard and then up South Main Street, meeting back on Memorial Road in Blue Black Square.
The registration free for runners age 5–17 is $15 while adults 23 and over is $25. The fee for University of Hartford students is currently set at $20, but because APO have already been able to cover their costs, they might lower that amount to just a minimum $5 donation.
(UPDATE: The cost for UHart students has dropped to $5, which would be a pure donation to SUTC)
Normally the registration fee for signing up for races would go toward the cost of putting the event together, but because the costs for this event are already covered, all fees paid will go directly to Stand Up To Cancer.
Additional donations can be made through their GoFundMe fundraiser that has already raised just under $800.
❤️ #APO #alphaphiomega #prettysoonwewillneedabiggerroomPlanning for this event started during winter break when Martin first took over as APO’s service VP, and being that this was the first time they’re doing such an event like this, there really hasn’t been a set goal, other than wanting to raise as much money as possible. However, they did set a benchmark of raising a minimum of $2,500, which they have already been able to achieve.
“I really want APO to see what they’re doing in the community and the world,” Martin said. “The University student body can see that on-campus clubs can do a big thing and raise a lot of money, and they can participate even if they’re not in the club. Maybe it will even raise awareness for our fraternity and get more members.”
The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, at Blue Black Square in West Hartford. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the race starting at 9 a.m.
For more information, visit APO5K.com.