Each semester, Southern Adventist University’s administration course in recreation hosts a race to gain experience in setting up events. But this year, Amberhope Velbis’ class decided they wanted to do something more – they wanted to plan a race that could make a difference.
“When we first started putting the race together, we were struggling to find a way to make it unique,” said Velbis, a senior. “Just at Southern we host two 5ks every year. Most of the time it’s student-led for the class credit, but we wanted to make this unique and purposeful.”
Then, the class received an email from a student support group called SOAR, which stands for Support for Alternative Readiness, for students with disabilities, specifically outlining the difficulties students with autism can feel in being themselves in a campus environment where many students don’t understand the diagnosis.
“We prayed about it a lot,” Velbis said. “And this was the answer we were looking for.”
So on Friday, April 22, the group is hosting its Autism Awareness 5k Fun Run and Walk. All proceeds will go toward academic and social support programs for students with autism.
“The theme of the race is ‘Be who you want to be,'” Velbis said, encouraging participants to come in a costume and just have fun. ” We’ll have a $50 prize for best costume, a DJ booth and more. We’re really just trying to bring the community together to support a good cause and show that being active can be done in a fun, social setting.”
Individuals or families interested in signing up can do so at runsignup.com/Race/TN/Collegedale/SOARAUTISMAWARENESS5K. Cost to register in advance is $10, or $15 on race day.
The race begins at 3 p.m. at the university duck pond. Those registering day-of should plan to do so at 2 p.m.