The warning shot is fired, and the runners are off. Members of the Marquette community, both officially and in spirit, will gather at the starting line Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for the 27th annual Al's Memorial Run & Walk.
Al's Memorial Run & Walk was started in 1978 by former Marquette basketball coach Al McGuire. It is an event that not only connects Marquette with the community, but also benefits Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, said Annette Conrad, associate director of Event Services at Marquette.
Current Marquette basketball coach Tom Crean and his wife Joani are this year's grand marshals, continuing the Marquette tradition of community involvement.
"Al's walk is a great way to support the children because 100 percent of all donations and pledges earned go directly to the hospital," Conrad said.
"I'm really glad to be participating in an event that allows me to have fun and help the children," said College of Communication sophomore Katie Grevenow.
All participants have the option of which programs their pledges and donations will benefit, said Linda Schieble, the special events manager at Children's Memorial Hospital. She said most proceeds go to fund the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units and the Hematology, Oncology and Transplant units.
The cost to participate in Al's Run & Walk is $18 for adults and $8 for children 12 years old and under. Those who still wish to register at the regular cost may do so online at www.alsrun.com and at Boston Stores through Friday.
Registration also will be offered the day of the event for an increased fee, Conrad said.
Participants can raise additional funds by making donations and asking family and friends for pledges, Conrad said. Collecting pledges is not required, but those who do have the chance to earn pledge awards ranging from long-sleeved T-shirts to round trip airfare on Midwest Airlines.
This year, participants also have the opportunity to create a personal pledge collecting Web site through the company Justgiving.com, Schieble said.
"The Web site costs the participant nothing and so far it's success has taken off beyond our wildest dreams," Schieble said.
Last year, over 16,372 people from Wisconsin and 32 other states participated in the event raising over $700,000 for the hospital, according to the event's Web site. Of those participating, 1,265 were affiliated with Marquette, Conrad said.
Al's Memorial Run & Walk consists of three different routes: a 3-mile walk, a 5-mile walk and an 8K run. All routes begin on campus at North 12th Street and West Wisconsin Avenue and finishes at the lakefront.
Al's Run and Walk concludes with the "Finish Line Celebration" at the south end of Maier Festival Park. Starting on the Briggs and Stratton Big Back Yard stage, there will be an award ceremony for the day's race winners. The event will continue with refreshments from numerous area vendors, games and live entertainment, which will continue throughout the afternoon.