Run, walk to raise cancer awareness

Freshman Catherine Brill has been busy.\nThe McNutt Quad vice-governor has gathered a team of 20 and raised $405 for Saturday's first annual Hoosiers Outrun Cancer Run/Walk.\n"Cancer has affected my family a lot," she said. "There's so much that can be done for cancer, so every little bit helps."\nThat's music to the ears of race officials -- who have also been busy planning the event.\nThey're waiving late entry fees and encouraging students to participate in tomorrow's race. The opening ceremony begins at 10:15 a.m. The run/walk starts between Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium at 10:30 a.m.\nThe event will raise money for patient care, outreach and education, cancer research grants and awareness for IU, said Debbie Sibbitt, volunteer coordinator.\n"(Walking) helps me remember my uncle the way I want to remember him," Brill said, whose uncle died of cancer. "The best way to remember someone you know is to try to help their cause."\nBrill said participants can remember a victim of cancer or commemorate a survivor by hanging pennants or wearing bibs.\nThere are more than 180 volunteers in various positions, Sibbitt said, and they've already surpassed their $200,000 fund-raising goal.\nDorothy Ellis, event co-chair, expects between 2,500 and 3,000 runners to participate.\nOfficials say more wouldn't hurt.\n"I hope more students will come out," said Karen Knight, event co-chair. "I believe this is about the students getting involved."\nCancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, and claimed the lives of 539,577 people in 1997.\n"It's a terrible enemy," Knight said. She lost her brother and mother to cancer.\n"There are so many people who have cancer now," Knight said. "To me this race is a means of celebrating those people who are still fighting the disease ... and honoring those people who succumbed to the disease."\nSusanne Houshmand, a Bloomington resident and registered nurse at Bloomington Hospital, explained why events such as Hoosiers Outrun Cancer are necessary.\n"To make people aware of the problem. To raise the consciousness," she said. "It's a common problem that strikes all age groups and strata of society."\nKaren Knight said her husband, former basketball coach Bob Knight, named the event.\n"Without Coach Knight's involvement, the race would not be the magnitude it is," event co-chair Ellis said. "He gave it a real jump start."\nCoach Knight won't be at the race, because it would be an uncomfortable situation, Karen Knight said.\n"It doesn't mean he won't be there in spirit," she said.\nBut the men's basketball team is expected to participate.\n"They'll be there to sign autographs, maybe some will participate in the run and walk," said athletics director Clarence Doninger. \nKaren Knight said hundreds of behind-the-scenes volunteers have set the event up for success.\n"We did it as a team," Brill said. "It's just a little bit every day"