Members of Taylor University's volleyball team traded their court shoes for running shoes last Saturday to compete as a team in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Indianapolis.

The 5k race is part of a nationwide series of racing and walking events designed to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds to fight the disease. According to the Komen Web site, the organization was founded 25 years ago by Nancy Brinker in memory of her sister, Susan Komen, who died after a battle with breast cancer. The organization said it has invested over $1 billion in breast cancer research to date.

 

"It was a great day, not only for the team, but for all the participants of the race," said Brittany Smith, Taylor's volleyball coach. 

 

"I wanted the players to see how their gifts can impact so many areas; and it was great to see them fully engage in the race. The atmosphere was fun for everyone and it really showed the team how they can get out in the community and make a difference in yet one more way. We're looking forward to this being an annual tradition for Taylor volleyball."

 

"Being a part of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was a great experience for our team," said Molly Larkin, a sophomore history major from Excelsior, Minn. "Not only did we have fun training for it, we also had the satisfaction of running for a good cause. It was definitely a great time – and the running wasn't even hard."

 

"I thought the race was a really cool experience," said Jenny Peterson, a junior business management major from Prospect Heights, Ill. "It helped me understand Hebrews 12:1 a lot better. ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.'

 

"The crowds downtown were our ‘cloud of witnesses' and each person had their own race to run," Peterson added.

 

"We decided to run as the cause is so important and many of us know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer," said Smith, who ran the race pushing her two-month-old daughter in a special stroller.

 

"The team has been working hard all spring on conditioning and wanted to do something with that. We chose the Komen race for obvious reasons and it was a great way for the team to do something together that will benefit others.

 

"It's putting our gifts into action," Smith continued. "We're all athletes, we can run and we can make a difference and raise awareness by doing it."