Panhel run raises money for cancer

Over 350 sweaty, lycra and spandex-sporting participants dashed throughout Penn's campus yesterday in the Panhellenic Council-sponsored third annual Rena Rowan Ribbon Run.

The 5K race -- which began at 1 p.m. at the compass on Locust Walk -- featured a DJ, as well as piles of free pizza, baked goods, smoothies and energy drinks.

After bolting behind Franklin Field, back up Spruce Street, traversing between Walnut Street and the Quadrangle and trekking back down to 34th Street, the pack charged toward the compass to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger," completing the race next to Huntsman Hall. The brisk front-runners of the group were led by College junior Dickon Waterfield.

Waterfield completed the race in 16 minutes and 32 seconds, earning the first prize in the "Men's 24 years and under" category.

Although the exchange student from the University of Adinburgh in London plays club soccer and acknowledges that he is in fairly good shape, he admits that participating in the event was actually a last minute idea. "I only got up about 20 minutes before the race," Waterfield said.

Other division winners included College senior Jen Valentine in the "Women 24 years and under" category, clocking in at 19 minutes and 41 seconds; Brian Snyder in the "Men 25 years and above" division at 17 minutes and two seconds; and Abby Landzberg in the "Women 25 years and above" category at 27 minutes and 11 seconds.

This year's race not only concluded the annual celebratory Greek Week, but also raised money for Panhel's central philanthropic focus, the Rena Rowan Breast Health Center, located in the Penn Tower. The nationally-renowned center has specialized in serving the physical and emotional needs of breast cancer patients from diagnosis through remission since its opening in October 2000.

"It's wonderful because the Panhellenic Council is able to tap into something right here on campus," Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Assistant Director Leah Shafer said.

Shafer explained that by contributing to a locally-situated facility, students are able to view exactly how donations from the run are utilized. She added that if the charity were located elsewhere, students would also feel less connected to the philanthropic endeavor and the opportunities to volunteer at the center would be rare.

When University President Judith Rodin was informed in the spring of 2000 that the Rowan Center would be built on the edge of campus, she encouraged Panhel's executive board to become involved with the center. Since its opening in October 2000, the center has become Panhel's central charity focus.

"Breast cancer is of particular importance to Panhel because we [are] an organization that is composed solely of women, and this is a disease which afflicts thousands of women every year," Panhel President Alison Ng said.

Last year, roughly 200 participated in the event, garnering over $9,000 for the Rowan Center. With nearly double the participants this semester, Panhel expects an even larger sum to be donated to the Rowan Center.

Ng attributes this year's high turnout numbers to great planning by Panhel Executive Secretary Laura Harris and Civic Chairwomen Sarah Lux and Hayley Shimizu.

"I think we can attribute most of the success of today's run to these three women and all of the hard work they've put in since last semester," the Wharton senior said.

Panhel Executive Vice President Janet Temko also noted that increased cooperation between the InterFraternity Council, the BiCultural InterGreek Council and the Panhellenic Council produced a fun atmosphere, as well as a higher turnout of both racers and community sponsors such as Power Yoga, Jammin' Juice and Sugar Hill Bakery.

Ng explained that the increased participation by sponsors, students and parents not only ends Greek Week on a high note but demonstrates the Greek system's "commitment to philanthropy and community service" and its ability to garner support for a worthy cause.

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