Give Women’s Athletics a Run (or Walk) for Its Money
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On a day that will see more than 1,000 alumni arrive at the Lawrenceville campus through various methods of transportation to attend Reunion Weekend, it’ll be good old fashioned walking and running that plays the most pivotal role in raising funds for Rider University’s female student-athletes through the 5K Walk/Run for Women’s Athletics on Saturday, June 14.
“The idea actually came from (Rider Director of Athletics) Don Harnum, who had seen the same sort of thing succeed elsewhere,” said Karin Torchia, associate director of Athletics for External Operations. “It was an initiative we had been thinking of over the years because women’s sports don’t have the same inherent booster support as some men’s sports.”
All proceeds from the 5K Walk/Run will directly benefit Rider’s 10 NCAA Division I women’s varsity athletics programs, as well as the Broncs’ cheerleading team, supporting the overall operation of these programs.
“We want everyone to be a part of this year’s 5K Walk/Run,” Torchia said of the event, which last year, in its inaugural venture, drew 150 participants. “Gather your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to form your own team or be a part of someone else’s team. Join us for the fun, food and fellowship, and at the same time, walk or run to help raise needed funds for all of Rider’s women’s sports programs.”
Torchia said that last year’s event enjoyed a great synergy with the much larger Reunion Weekend activities. “Many alums who were here for Reunion Weekend also signed up for the Walk/Run, and others who came to campus specifically for the Walk/Run wound up staying for the day at Reunion Weekend,” she explained.
The event begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Student Recreation Center, followed by an official welcome and announcements at 10:15. The 5K Walk/Run itself steps off at 10:30 a.m. in on the Campus Mall, in front of Alumni Gym, and takes participants on a looping, entirely on-campus trek that extends behind the Maurer Gym and the residence halls before returning them to the Campus Mall.
All individual walkers and runners are welcome. “The registration fee is $25, but we’re asking each participant to raise or donate additional funds with a final goal of $100 or more,” Torchia said. “Teams” of walkers or runners are also welcome, and those interested in entering as a team should contact Cherie Voorhees at 609-896-5054 for a “team captain” form. Interested participants can also obtain the form via the Rider Athletics Web site by clicking on the 5K Walk/Run for Women’s Athletics link at the top of the page. Individual registration and payment may also be done via gobroncs.com.
All registration/payment/donation forms are available online, as well as in the Rider Department of Athletics office. Checks, cash (made payable to Rider Athletics) and credit cards are accepted. Payment can also be made online with a credit card. To access the registration/payment forms, click on “registration” in the drop-down menu of the 5K Walk/Run for Women’s Athletics link at the top of the page. All donations should reach the Department of Athletics by June 1.
Torchia commended members of the 5K Walk/Run organizing committee, including Dr. Kelly Bidle, associate professor of Biology; Dr. Kathy Browne, associate professor of Geological and Marine Sciences; Vickie Weaver, director of Public Safety; Cathy Carter-Romero, director of Publications; Karen Moran, associate director of Alumni Relations; and Jaclyn Levi, assistant director of Alumni Relations in addition to several of the women's varsity coaches from Rider. She also recognized the contributions of Diana Kayes, Rider’s Sustainability Director, for helping to make the Walk/Run a green event.
“In order to assure its sustainability, Cathy Carter-Romero suggested bringing in Diana Kayes to help organize the event,” Torchia explained. “As a result, the Walk/Run will become an extension of the Broncs Go Green initiative. There will be no disposable plastic water bottles this year. Instead, the Sustainability Committee graciously donated reusable Broncs Go Green logo water bottles that will be filled for participants at the end of the race. There will also be no wrappers, as we’ve sought to cut down on paper and other waste.”
