5k for a cure

Over 75 people gathered in front of the Student Union at 6 a.m. Saturday for the American Cancer Society’s University Relay for Life fundraiser 5K for a Cure Race.

Reid and Maggie Mallette were two of the many stretching and helping each other pin on their numbers before they ran in the race, which they also competed in last year.

“We compete in this event because our grandmother died of cancer, and because it is a good cause,” Maggie Mallette, 13, said.

This year, the sisters brought along not only a year’s worth of cross-country experience, but also their father, Pope.

“With a full year of cross-country training behind us, we hope to beat our records,” Reid Mallette, 14, said.

In last year’s race, Reid finished the 3.1-mile route in approximately 38 minutes, and Maggie Mallette finished in approximately 32 minutes.

Kyle Lewis, a 25-year-old nutrition graduate school student, hoped to compete with someone else as well — his 2-year-old lab-spring spaniel mix, Tybee.

“I was originally planning to run with my dog, but he took off and ran his own race,” Lewis said. “I just wanted to come out and support the cause. It is a great cause to be into.”

Kent and Loretta Reece, who decided to retire in Oxford, also wanted to support the cause.

“I think it is a good cause to try to find a cure,” Loretta Reece said. “Anything we can do to support the cause is worth it to us.”

The couple is also happy to be out at retirement age.

“Just the accomplishment of being able to compete in the event at our age is saying something good,” Loretta Reece said.

Lewis won the race with a time of 16 minutes and 11 seconds. Maggie, who attends Oxford Middle School, finished a few seconds ahead of Reid, who attends Oxford High School, at 28 minutes and 38 seconds.

Lewis and Tybee met after the race at the Buffalo Peak Outfitters tent, where the company was giving away prizes to the racers.

The race had twice as many participants as last year, team member Carrie LeMay, a psychology graduate student, said. LeMay said since Aug. 23, when the relay team started working, the organization had raised $1,700, which doesn’t include the final tally on the race.

“We decided to start earlier this year,” LeMay said. “We thought the race would kick start the Ole Miss Relay team off, so we could raise as much as possible.”

All proceeds will benefit cancer patients through the American Cancer Society.

In the spring, the Ole Miss Relay team will have a friendly competition against Mississippi State University to see who can raise the most money for the ACS.