By: Viola Cipriani
On Sunday, April 16th, McKendree’s Sport Event and Facilities Management students will host the annual charity race organized entirely by the sports management class body. 2023 marks the ninth year of a hands-on, experiential learning Sport Event & Facilities Management course that raises funds for a local nonprofit organization of the students’ choice.
Developing, planning, executing, and evaluating this event helps Sport Management majors put their classroom learning to use and understand “real world” scenarios. It also gives students sales, marketing, and sponsorship experiences and networking opportunities outside the classroom. McKendree University Sport Management seniors entirely plan and execute the event as their major capstone class project.
This year, the event is called Race For Love, and it is a 5K run/walk that starts from the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, goes around the Lebanon Area for 5 kilometers (about 3.3 miles), and comes back at the starting point. Each year, Sport Event and Facilities Management students select a nonprofit organization to receive the event’s proceeds. This year, students opted to work with Leaps of Love, an organization in Highland, IL, that serves families affected by childhood tumors by offering them different types of support. The event will be held on Sunday, April 16th, at 8 AM.
The race’s entry fee is $25, but is only $15 for McKendree students!!
Online registrations are still open, but anyone is welcome to register in person on the day of the race in front of the Hett between 7 and 7:45 AM.
Water and other refreshments will be provided, along with a race T-shirt until supplies last. There will also be prizes for the winners, a bounce house for kids, and more surprises!
Participation in the race will not only support Leaps of Love but will also help the Sport Management program ensure funds to continue the organization of this event year after year. The whole event is organized by McKendree seniors who put the skills they’ve learned over the last four years to work in a real-world experience.
Sign Up Bearcats! Spread the LOVE!
https://www.mcksportmgmt.com/registration.html
