The Loveliest Village

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unday afternoon could not have been more beautiful.  The sky was bright and sunny without a cloud in sight.  The air was crisp and cool with no trace of humidity.  It was the perfect day to run a race.
 
Alpha Omicron Pi social sorority held their annual Run For Roses on Sunday, November 4.  The Run For Roses is a 5K race around Auburn’s campus.  It is the sorority’s main way of raising money for their philanthropy, which is arthritis research.  Each participant is charged a registration fee of $14 which is donated to the AOII Arthritis Foundation.
 
“Nearly 70 million American adults have some form of arthritis, and forty one million of those affected are women.  That is why our philanthropy is so important to us as women,� says Kala Orr, Alpha Omicron Pi’s philanthropy chairman.
 
Participants began gathering outside Toomer residence hall at 1 p.m.  While waiting for the race to begin they were treated to delicious free food and drinks.  After everyone registered, names were drawn for door prizes. 
 
Although many participants take the race very seriously and run the entire way, there are also many who choose to walk instead.  “I don’t really like to run, but I really look forward to participating in the Run For Roses every year.  At least half of us choose to walk instead of run, and it’s a really good way of spending quality time with my closest friends and raising money for our philanthropy at the same time,� says senior Jenna Brendle.
 
The third and second place participants each received a red rose, and the winner of the race received a dozen red roses.
 
“I definitely feel that the race today was a success,� says Mary Catherine Stewart, Alpha Omicron Pi’s assistant philanthropy chair, “and I can’t wait to find out how much money we raised for our philanthropy!�

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