Saint Mary’s College Dance Marathon (SMCDM) will host its sixth annual FT5K race to help fundraise for Riley's Hospital for Children in Indianapolis on Saturday.
“We are hoping to make the 5K this year even bigger than past races,” SMCDM Fundraising Executive Kelly Geelan said. “We are really hoping to reach outside of the Saint Mary’s community to get more participants.”
The race will begin at 8 a.m. in the Welcome Center, "rain or shine." Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m. and costs $10.
“We love the 5K because it is a great opportunity for us to partner with companies in the community and bring everyone together for a great cause,” Geelan said.
The race serves as one of Dance Marathon’s main fundraisers each year.
“It is an amazing opportunity for everyone to remember why we dance marathon and to run and walk for those who cannot,” Geelan said.
Last year, SMCDM hosted the FT5K in honor of a Riley’s Hospital for Children patient, Charlotte Terry, who was 10 months old when she lost her battle with brain cancer.
“Charlotte and her family are one of the many reasons that all of the members of Saint Mary’s College Dance Marathon work so hard,” Geelan said.
This year, SMCDM continues to honor Terry by again hosting the race in her honor.
“The idea to dedicate the race to Charlotte Terry again this year was a no-brainer for us,” Geelan said. “We love and care for all of our Riley families and cherish the bonds that we have with them. Charlotte continues to be missed tremendously and we hope that the 5K will once again honor her memory.”
Geelan, who was also on the Dance Marathon fundraising committee last year, worked to expand the FT5K this year.
“This year is different than last year because we have worked really hard at growing the entire event,” she said. “We are expecting to have even more runners and walkers this year.”
The race is one of many fundraisers taking place that will lead up to the Dance Marathon on April 1. Although the 12-hour event typically takes place in the Angela Athletic Facility, it will instead be at Holy Cross College due to the ongoing renovations.
“We hope to include more members of the community and students at Notre Dame and Holy Cross,” Geelan said. “We especially want to reach out to Holy Cross since they were kind enough to let us use their facilities for our marathon April 1 while the Angela Athletic Facility is under construction.”
Geelan said she looks forward to seeing the community come together and enjoy themselves at an event for “an amazing cause.”
“Earlier this year, myself and the other executives got a chance to go to Indianapolis and visit Riley,” she said. “The care and attention that children receive at Riley is unlike any other hospital. All of the doctors and staff truly try to make it feel like a home and not a hospital. I love Dance Marathon because I believe that every child deserves the right to dance.”
