It is time Pierce College breaks an almost decade-long hiatus to participate in a 5k run and to host a run on the Brahmas campus to bring the community together and potentially help a good cause.
Pierce supported a race held by the Addiction Studies Program, which was hosted in Downtown Los Angeles in 2014. Now, with recent discussion about the homelessness crisis affecting students in LA County, many Brahmas can benefit from this event.
Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Mission College Benjamin Demers wrote on the college’s website that they plan on hosting a 5k run event this year, while using the admission fee for the race toward memorabilia and to help fund student scholarships.
“Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, Mission acknowledges the significance of high living costs to its students as they balance rigorous academics with work to meet basic needs creates an uphill battle that many resilient students valiantly navigate,” Demers said.
A sense of unity can be brought to campus with the mutual goal of helping Brahmas who need support in funding their academic dreams while also joining some friendly competition.
Demers further shared in the same article how significant a 5k run event can be for a college community.
“The pulse of the event reverberates through the 5k Walk/Run, tracing its route through campus and symbolizing the profound connection between Mission College and the Santa Clara community,” Demers said.
Pierce and the Woodland Hills community deserve to experience that same connection. With the recent flood of students that came for the western-themed Club Rush event, one can not help but imagine the turn out for the 5k run.
After providing an admission fee, students could receive a T-shirt to commemorate the event along with a medal for their participation. The 5k run could offer prizes for the top three winners.
To help fund the event, Pierce could take inspiration from Los Angeles Harbor College sponsor bundles.
For their 5k run event sponsor bundles, they offer a tier list of options. From the “Seahawk” package, to the “Platinum” package, Harbor offers race registrations, along with recognition displays equating to the package purchased.
Aside from the communal benefits and potentially help fund student scholarships, giving the community an opportunity to participate in a 5k
run can introduce people to healthy habits that affect more than physical health.
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health have found in their study of land and water aerobics that there are positive effects on cognitive functions.
“High-intensity intermittent running enhanced executive functions in adolescents, improving their reaction times and accuracy in attentional tasks. Also, long- distance marches have been reported to improve working memory performances in middle-aged athletes.”
A 5k run will not only promote healthy habits but create a space that shows up for disadvantaged students who need support.
