Over 180 people participated in this year’s Aleph Gimel Ain (AGA) Breast Cancer Awareness 5K run on Oct. 25, raising money for the Cancer Center at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in the Walla Walla Valley. This year’s theme was Give Cancer the Boot. Heidi Indermuehle, associate dean of women and event coordinator, said, “We made over $3000 last year, and this year we had more participants and are still accepting donations.” With donations still coming in, the total amount raised has yet to be announced.

On race day, a breast cancer survivor fired the starting pistol at Canaday Technology Center on the Walla Walla University campus. The race route was planned to take advantage of side streets through town to avoid busy streets and intersections, looping back to the WWU campus.

Many community members and WWU students, faculty, and staff attended the race. The youngest racer was 6-year-old Jackson Bryant from Walla Walla.

“We planned for 125 people; it was amazing to see such a positive response with more than 180 attendants. We were still getting registration forms the night before the race,” said Indermuehle. “This race has grown a lot in the last few years. It is nice for current cancer fighters, survivors, and the whole community to see everyone supporting the cause. I hope to see this support continue to grow in next year’s race.”

AGA was founded in 1928 as the women's residence hall club for Foreman and Conard halls. All women’s residence hall students pay dues and belong to AGA.

Additional donations are still being accepted and can be sent to Indermuehle at Foreman Hall, 200 SE Ash Ave., College Place, WA 99324. Checks can be made payable to “AGA 5K.”

Posted Nov. 11, 2015