Jeff Clevenger was 42-years-old when he lost his life to Multiple Sclerosis. Although Clevenger's life was cut short, Ball State's Exercise Science Club will try to keep his memory alive on Saturday.
The club will host its third annual Jeff Clevenger 5K run and walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Alumni Center.
In 2010, former Exercise Science Club President Daniel Clevenger, the son of Jeff Clevenger, was looking to create a philanthropy event for the club. With the memory of his father passing at the hands of Multiple Sclerosis shortly before, the club decided to create the run and walk to help aid Multiple Sclerosis research, Clevenger said.
As of now, there is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis and about 350,000 Americans have the disease, according to head of U.S. Medical Affairs, Fernando Dangond. Multiple Sclerosis attacks the nerves of the central nervous system causing them to degenerate.
All proceeds from the event will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, current Exercise Science Club president Alisha Streit said.
In both 2010 and 2011, the club was one of the top five monetary donors in the country to the MS Society and raised over $10,000 for the society, Streit said.
The club raises money from registration fees, sponsors and donations.
Registration fees for students cost $20 and $25 for other participants. A T-shirt is included in the fee. The club also relies on local businesses to sponsor the event and will have a box available for personal donations.
"We had a really successful first year [in 2010]," Clevenger said. "We had over 250 runners."
Registration numbers are currently down from the previous years.
"As of right now, we have 115 people pre-registered for the event," Streit said. "About 90 of those are Ball State students."
People who are looking to pre-register for the event can do so online. Registration will also be available at the site of the event, but those who plan to register Saturday morning are encouraged to arrive early. Registration is from 6:30-8:15 a.m.
The route will begin at the Alumni Center before taking participants through campus, past President Jo Ann Gora's house and back to the Alumni Center.
"[The event is] really a win-win situation," junior Isiah Sweat said. "I love running, so I get to race people, and my money will be going toward the memory of Jeff Clevenger and the fight against Multiple Sclerosis."
Daniel Clevenger said he hopes that people will come support the cause, even if they didn't know his father.
"People don't necessarily know my dad, but the event is more for the cause and what we're donating too," Daniel Clevenger said. "There's a lot of people who have Multiple Sclerosis in this country, and there's no cure. People who come are going to help those people."
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