The Stride for Aggie Pride aims to take another big stride this year in fundraising for ASUCD scholarships and We Are Aggie Pride, the students-helping-students emergency fund.

The run, in its first two years, generated more than $42,000 for the cause. Now, let’s add to that total in the third Stride for Aggie Pride 5K, Sunday, April 24, on the Davis campus, starting and ending on the Quad. The organizers describe the route as “scenic” — well, of course it is, considering this is UC Davis and the run goes through the arboretum!

The first Stride for Aggie Pride drew 1,700 participants and the second edition drew nearly 3,000. Signups for this year’s run are underway. The event is open to all ages, from the campus community and anywhere else!

Besides raising money for ASUCD scholarships and We Are Aggie Pride, the run promotes a healthy lifestyle with a specific focus on students’ holistic health, to be mentally and physically fit.

In support of the cause, various Davis businesses and campus departments will set up booths as part of the day’s festivities on the Quad.

The schedule: Warmup activities (led by Fitness and Wellness staff from the Activities and Recreation Center), 9 a.m.; run begins, 9:30 a.m.; and post-race fair, with hands-on activities and student performances, 10:15 a.m.-1 p.m.

Discounted fees during the early registration period, until April 18: $5 for ages 12 and under, $10 for students (K-12, college, professional and graduate school), $15 for staff and faculty, and $20 for nonstudents. Stride for Aggie Pride T-shirts are guaranteed only for people early-bird registration.

Fees after April 18, or the day of the run: $10 for ages 12 and under, $15 for students, $20 for staff and faculty, and $30 for nonstudents.

Can’t make the run but you still want to help? There’s a “Donate” button directly underneath the “Register Now” button on the website. There’s also a link to volunteer.

The beneficiaries:

• ASUCD Awards Endowment — Established in 1999, this fund provides tuition support for more than a dozen outstanding students annually with prizes of $500 to $1,000 awarded every fall and spring quarter. Unique among UC Davis funds, selection is overseen by a committee of students with input from the ASUCD business manager.
• We Are Aggie Pride — This student-run organization provides emergency funding to students to cover food, rent and other essential costs. The program aims at serving as a temporary relief fund to those who need financial support.

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