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A 24-hour marathon of giving commenced on Thursday with the third annual Giving Day 5K run/walk through campus, bringing together students, faculty, alumni and others to celebrate and support the University.

For some, it was a last hurrah before graduation, like for seniors Ihab Shaker, Aidan Dowling and their friends, who will cross the stage in mere days and soon after will scatter for jobs and internships and other responsibilities. Novice runners all, the friends since freshman year laced up to do it together and “cherish memories,” Dowling said.

For others, like Roberto ’10 and Kate Mena ’10 and their children Roberto, 6, and Lily, 9, it was a chance to run with their families and enjoy the breezy evening. Kindergartener Roberto was the event’s youngest participant, and he’d run a 5K once before. He said he liked running “when you can feel the air and then you can see the clouds and the flowers.”

While that might sound a little laid-back, he still had goals for his race.

“He already asked if he has to wait for me, because I run slow,” his mother said.

A leisurely run through campus, though, is exactly what Kate Mena was looking forward to — it had been a while since she had seen much of campus beyond Athletics events. (Husband Roberto is the Spartans’ strength and conditioning coach.) ��

“I’m excited to see all the changes,” Kate Mena said. “We’re just here to support the school and show the kids where we came from.” ��

The Menas and the others were among the 175 entrants who ran in person, their entry fees going toward scholarships and University programs. The 5K also had virtual runners, unable to make it to campus, who participated on their own, in cities nationwide.

The event was more social than serious. The course wound through campus and Plant Park, crisscrossing in spots that made it easy to skip or add a loop —��on purpose or not — making this either the longest or shortest 5K on record, several runners joked. Prizes were awarded in playful categories, including for the youngest (6-year-old Roberto) and most spirited, which went to junior Jack Schraml, who ran good-naturedly in a banana costume.

“I figured, we have a banana statue on campus,” he said before the race. “So why not?”

As soon as Schraml came through the finish line balloon arch in the middle of Pepin Stadium, though, he peeled off his hot and sweaty getup.

“Felt is not the play,” he panted, laying on the grass.

Pernell Reid ’19, who is training for a marathon, was the first to finish. He didn’t hear his time, and he forgot to check his watch, but he was happy with his run. “I guess I was feeling better than I thought,” he said.

On the other end of the spectrum: speedy young Roberto.

He and his dad crossed under the balloons together, not too much after Reid. Little Roberto then dropped to the ground, wiped out, and his dad scooped him up, placing him on his shoulders.

“Too much running!” said Roberto when asked about his race.

Still, he said he might wear his medal to school in the morning.

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Giving Day continues until Friday, April 24, at 6 p.m., followed by Minarets at Sunset, a celebration on the Southard Family Building patio. In addition to the live events, supporters can donate to virtual “minaret climbers,” who are sharing their ��ū�컨��ampa stories online and on social media.