Students Run for Relief
by Heather Catlin

While many people are sending money to the Tsunami relief fund, the UNC triathlon club is sending runners. The team is calling their mission “Hope from Heels: Running to Rebuild a Nation.”

Hundreds of thousands of lives changed in a matter of seconds when the Tsunami hit India and parts of Southeast Asia. Many in Chapel Hill are finding ways help the victims. Some participate in fundraising parties, while others donate cash at local grocery checkouts.

But the UNC triathlon club has a different fundraising idea, and it is running with it, literally. The club plans to send runners to the Thailand Temple Marathon during spring break.

The money raised by the team will go directly toward the relief effort. A marathon is just one part of a triathlon which includes swimming, biking and running. Club president Lindsay Faller says her team knew they had to do something to help.

“As college students, I think a lot of times we don't realize how weatlhy we are and how good we have it attending a public university,” Faller says.

Faller adds the team has received official approval from Chancellor James Moeser. Funds from the club treasury will help pay for travel expenses.

Club member Ryan Cosper, who has run in several fundraising marathons, says the reason for traveling to Thailand is very simple.

“Just for humanitarian reasons," Ryan says. "In general, I would really like to be apart of anything that can help others.”

Marathon sponsors say the reaction form the Tsunami has increased overseas registration, and, so far, more than 200,000 runners are expected to show.

These days, most runners run because they need to, not because they love to. But for athletes like Cosper, running is a love that is now helping those who need it the most.

The team says that, if for some reason the Thailand Temple Marathon doesn’t work out, they will run another marathon in Virginia Beach, with the proceeds going to the same cause.