Class project producing 5K run Saturday to go toward Angel Wings Foundation
Shades of pink will cover the Student Activity Center on Saturday as part of a 5K run hosted by a student group in Physical Education and Sport Faculty Vincent Mumford’s PES 320: Foundations of Sports Management class.
For some students in the class, this was just another group project. Some were not totally on board until Angel Wings founder Keisha Brown came and talk to the two classes putting together the run.
“We had a rough start getting everyone on board because it was a competition with students on what project we would do, so people wanted to do their own,” said group leader and Jackson senior Brandon Bradley. “Once Keisha Brown came in and talked to our class, you saw a spark in everyone.”
Brown, also the Alma College women’s basketball coach, was diagnosed with breast cancer and she often worried about who would take care of her daughter if she did not make it. That led her to start the Angel Wings Foundation. Named after her daughter, Angel, it gives scholarships and money to kids that lost their parents to cancer.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and is $20. The race begins at 11 a.m. Bradley stressed the fact that you don’t have to run, walking or just coming and giving donations is acceptable.
There will be five stations of different shades of pink that runners will be ‘painted,’ although it is made of corn starch and food coloring so it is not harmful.
Mumford said his way of teaching is by doing.
“It’s a really competitive world out there, and it is harder to find jobs,” he said. “I think it is really important for students to actually do what they are learning. I make it as real as it can be so they can be ready when they hit the work force.”
The other side of it is the fact they are giving back to the community.
“This is a life or death situation,” Mumford said. “Our community partner, Keisha Brown, is battling for her life. Students see first hand someone fighting for their lives. They can make an impact through a class project.”
Bradley said the group goal is to raise $8,000. They expect 250 runners, which would raise $5,000. The other money would come from $10 T-shirt sales and donations.
“This is not about a grade anymore,” Bradley said. “It’s about fighting for (Brown) now. Its not about us, it’s about helping kids.”
