Running for a good cause might be great motivation for all of you who hate running, or the only motivation. This Sunday, November 9th at Town Creek Park there will be a 5K run with proceeds benefiting a local camp.

Hosted by Auburn sorority, Tri Delta, and profiting Camp Smile-a- Mile, their local philanthropy, they hope to attract many participants. Camp Smile-a-Mile is located on Lake Martin and allows children 18 and under who currently or previously have, or have had, cancer a normal camp experience, while still being able to undergo the treatment they need.

Pediatric nurses and physicians from The Pediatric Hospital in Birmingham spend the week with the campers, managing medication and all other health needs. Camp Smile-a-Mile is a nonprofit organization which provides these services to the children and their families at no cost.

Megen Heslip, Philanthropy Chair for Tri Delta, explains, “A lot of these kids come from St. Jude Hospital and Camp Smile-a-Mile allows kids a normal camp experience while still being able to receive such things as chemo.”

This camp offers many different programs year round, including teen trips, family weekends, and even young adult retreats. The young adult retreats are for people ages 19-30 who are childhood cancer survivors.

According to their website Camp Smile-a-Mile’s mission is to, “provide year round challenging, unforgettable recreational and educational experiences for young cancer patients, their families as well as young adult survivors and to provide them with avenues for fellowship, to help them cope with their disease, and to prepare them for life after cancer.”

Heslip says, “Our sorority has been involved with this camp for probably the past five years.” She says all of the Tri Deltas will be involved in the race stating, “We will be doing traffic control, registration, and giving out the prizes.”

So this Sunday as Tri Delta once again hosts Alabama’s Program for Cancer remember many happy children will be rewarded. Anyone is welcome to be a participant and run or walk in this event as there will be four different age groups in which runners will be placed. Registration begins at 8:30 am and is $17 or members also have the option to pre register for $15. There will be t-shirts and prizes for the winners, including a large grand prize for both the male and female overall winners.

We all remember those summer camps we went to and all the fun activities and new experiences we got to be involved in, not to mention all the new people we got to meet. These kids deserve nothing less and, just because they are sick, should not be denied the same great camp experiences as everyone else.


For more information about the race contact any Tri Delta, or Philanthropy chair Megen Heslip, at heslime@auburn.edu or for information about Camp Smile-a-Mile visit http://www.campsam.org/index.asp








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