Green cones marked the course, starting from Conrad Hall before looping at Fee Hall along the Red Cedar River. 

Over 88 people took part in the race with 200 registered; some were given the option to participate virtually on their own time. A few of the participants ran while wearing the provided shirt while others donned keffiyehs as well as other racing gear. 

Funds raised from the charity race will be donated to UNICEF, where the money will hopefully be dedicated to children’s hospitals and those in need in Gaza specifically, said pre-med junior and SJP president Nasim Barghouti. The event raised over $9,000.

SJP began planning the event in January, motivated by the success of the same event held last spring. 

"It shifts away from the political dynamic that the Palestinian name is under," Barghouti said. "We can focus on the humanitarian aspect that exists which will help us also raise awareness towards the Palestinian cause."

Supply chain management sophomore David Juergens participated in the race last year and finished first this year. 

"I ran faster than last year, so I count that as a win," Juergens said.

A few seconds after Juergens crossed the finish line, David Hoffman placed second. Hoffman, an East Lansing resident who learned about the race online, said he was drawn to participate by the ability to "come together in unity."

"You want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together," Hoffman said. "One person can't get a lot done, but if we work together, we can achieve a lot more than just one person's goals."

Juergens agreed with Hoffman’s sentiment: "People can be discouraged by all the injustices in the world and if you view yourself as just a singular person facing a problem that's too big to handle, it's easy to give up."

That’s what makes community-focused events like the race important, Juergens said. It shows "support" and can be motivational. 

MSU alum Anna Martinez-Hume, who participated in the race for the first time last year, attended with her family. Her son, Felix, was pushed along in a stroller as the family “power walked” the course, Martinez-Hume said.

After finishing the race, Felix could be seen holding a Palestinian flag, chanting, "Free! Free! Palestine!"

Martinez-Hume is also part of Michigan Divest, a statewide divestment campaign focused on divesting Michigan’s retirement funds from Israeli bonds, and co-chair of the Lansing-area Peace Education Center. 

Martinez-Hume said that MSU students hosting this event is "incredibly important" because of the recent repercussions employed by the Trump administration against those who express pro-Palestine views on college campuses. 

"What's happening in Palestine needs to be talked about everywhere," Martinez-Hume said.

"I think that more events like this, that reach out to the community and get the community involved in what students are doing, is really vital," she continued.

Once all participants completed the course, SJP hosted a raffle, which every racer was automatically entered into upon registration. Three winners were selected with the chance to win a Garmin watch, a duffle bag and earbuds. 

Barghouti hopes that hosting similar events will show that there are other means to spread awareness to the MSU community. 

"It's not always protests or direct constructive activism or direct action that allows us to proceed with this cause," Barghouti said. "We hope the MSU community can see that, and then join us in these humanitarian efforts."