The first Gary Patterson 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday at Amon Carter Stadium in an effort to help the children of the community and introduce them to TCU, said the secretary treasurer of the Gary Patterson Foundation.Kelsey Patterson, wife of head football coach Gary Patterson and secretary treasurer of the foundation, said the Gary Patterson Foundation was founded in 2005 benefiting children’s organizations that include life skills programs, health and family services, and educational programs.
“We are looking for synergies with the foundation and with TCU,” Patterson said. “The foundation benefits children. Children are really the future, and we want to promote higher education.
“It’s great that we award the children. It’s also great to get them involved here on campus and for them to see higher-education opportunities.”
Patterson said the proceeds and donations from the run/walk will go to the foundation for grants to be given to undetermined needy organizations.
“We are just in the beginning stages,” Patterson said. “The run is really our first event. Once we get some cash we will be able to award grants.”
Patterson said Coaching Charities, a national organization that has worked with other schools in the Mountain West Conference, had success with the run/walk at other schools, and the foundation wanted to bring it to TCU.
Matt Holland, director of development for Coaching Charities, said he hopes his organization’s relationship with TCU is a lasting one.
“Since we are a new foundation we have been taking baby steps, but we hope to make this an annual event,” Holland said.
Patterson said she is unsure how many runners will be participating in the run/walk, but she hopes to have at least 200 and wants the event to grow in the future.
Allen Barham, a junior engineering major, said he swims and rides his bike regularly as part of a training regiment for a triathlon.
“I am training for the Benbrook triathlon, and I figured the Gary Patterson (Run/Walk) would be a good way to train for it,” Barham said.
Barham, who is also volunteering for the event, said he will be looking to participate in more opportunities similar to the charity run.
“I would like to keep track of events like that to stay in shape,” Barham said.
The run/walk will begin at the stadium at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning and travel though the neighborhood around campus before returning to the stadium. It will precede the annual Purple and White intrasquad football game.
Mark Becker, junior accounting and finance major, said he is participating in the run/walk because he wanted to help the foundation.
“All the proceeds go to a good cause and it benefits TCU and the TCU community,” Becker said.
