Tenth Annual 'Challenge' 5K supports Purdue Cancer Center Research

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 10th annual Purdue Challenge 5K run/walk that benefits the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research will begin at 8:30 a.m. on April 8.

The race, which is open to the public, begins and ends at Ross-Ade Stadium after navigating 3.1 miles through the north edge of campus. Registration is $30. Participants may register online or at the north end of Ross-Ade from 4-7 p.m. on April 7, or from 7-8 a.m. on April 8, the day of the race. Participants also may opt to "Sleep-in for The Challenge,” or be a team member and create a personalized fundraising page without running in the race.

The Challenge attracts on average, more than 1,800 participants every year. Since 2008, it has raised more than $604,000 toward cancer research. The Challenge fundraiser supports Purdue researchers whose projects are competitively selected based on their ability to generate a high impact in the field of cancer.

This year’s award winner is Bumsoo Han from the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering for the project titled, “Genotype-Specific Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Mechanics of Pancreatic Cancer.” For a list of projects that have received The Challenge grant, visit the Center for Cancer Research's website.

This year our honorary emcee is new Purdue football coach,Jeff Brohm, who will open up the race. At 10 a.m. the day of the race, the Cuonzo Martin Challenge Award, honoring former men's basketball player, coach and cancer survivor Cuonzo Martin, will be awarded to the student organization with the most donations. The Community Challenge Award also will be given to the group not classified as student, faculty or staff with the highest donation total. The Leroy Keyes Faculty/Staff Challenge award will be presented to a faculty/staff team. The top individual fundraiser will also win a prize package from local businesses and a miniature Hammer Down Cancer helmet.

The Purdue University Center for Cancer Research sponsors the Challenge with support from others, including Purdue Federal Credit Union, IU Health Arnett Cancer Care, Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health, Purdue Alumni Association, Dowell Automotive Repair Inc., Arni's Restaurant, Parkwest Fitness, Basham Rentals, and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. For more information and a complete list of sponsors, visit The Challenge website or the Center for Cancer Research's Facebook and Twitter accounts and use the #PurdueChallenge hashtag. 

Contact: Jasmine Moisides, Manager of Development Operations for the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 765-494-1109, JRMoisides@prf.org