Rain did not wash away the hopes of raising money for MSU Safe Place on Sunday.
The sixth annual “Race for the Place,” an outdoor event at Spartan Stadium benefiting MSU Safe Place, raised $18,000.
“The event went really well - well, except for the rain,” MSU Safe Place Director Holly Rosen said. “We had over 450 runners, which is more than ever.”
Safe Place is the only domestic violence shelter on a college campus. It provides programs, shelter, support and advocacy for anyone in the MSU community who has been the victim of domestic violence.
In addition to the 450 runners in the day’s 5K Run, Walk and Wheel event, there were also more than 100 children who participated in the day’s “Fun Run.” The children’s events, which included a mile run for children younger than 12 and a 100-yard dash for those younger than 6, were the final segments of the afternoon - and were met with the day’s rain showers.
“I didn’t like the rain, and I got really soaked,” said Kevin Young, a 6-year-old Lansing resident who was wearing an oversized yellow poncho over his wet clothes.
Co-chairwomen for this year’s race included MSU First Lady Joanne McPherson, Lupe Izzo, wife of MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, and Sheila Williams, wife of MSU football coach Bobby Williams.
McPherson, who helped create MSU Safe Place, said it has come a long way since its beginning.
“Seven years ago, Safe Place was very small and literally just an idea,” she said. “It could not be what it is today without the community.”
McPherson said Olin Health Center had originally approached Safe Place to do the race.
Jon Kermiet, who was soaked in a black tuxedo, was the race’s director, and is also a health educator for Olin Health Center. Kermiet has directed the event since it began six years ago.
“We’ve had this event earlier in the year, and we have had cold, ice and snow - but never rain,” he said. “But the rain didn’t damper anyone’s enthusiasm.”
Kermiet said his reasons for involvement with the race were personal.
“I lost my sister to domestic violence,” he said. “To me this is more than just a race.”
Many of the day’s volunteers included MSU athletes, including Sherita Williams, a member of the MSU women’s track and field team, who said she felt it was important to be a part of such an event.
“I volunteered because our team was doing a community service project, and this cause is really important,” said Williams, a kinesiology junior. “It is also extremely important because children tend to look up to us a lot and it gives them a sense of pleasure to see us.
“I guess I feel a sort of responsibility.”
While it was cool for him to see the athletes, Connor Anderson, a 6-year-old Grand Ledge resident who ran a mile, had another part of the day he liked best.
“I really liked getting a medal,” he said. “And I didn’t mind the rain.
“I wanted to get wet.”
