The third annual David Zucconi '55 5k Run will be held Sunday. Hosted by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, with assistance from the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, the race kicks off on Elmgrove Avenue in front of Marvel Gymnasium at 9:30 a.m.
Started in 2003 by then-SAAC presidents Christopher Rels '03 and Jessica Cooper '03 GS, the race honors the memory of Zucconi, a rugby player during his days at Brown, who died of cancer in January 2003 at 69.
"He was a huge supporter of student athletes, and (the SAAC) wanted to do something that he would be proud of," said Heena Trivedi, assistant athletic director for compliance.
Known as "Mr. Brown" by many athletes, Zucconi was a huge supporter of Brown's athletics program.
"He was a big football fan," said SAAC Co-President Will Burroughs '05. "My freshman and sophomore year, he would come out to practice, and the respect the coaches would show him was incredible. When he came out, it was a big deal. I got to meet him and he was an awesome guy."
In addition to the race on Sunday, $5 raffle tickets are being sold in the Post Office for the duration of the week. Applications for preregistration for the race, which costs $15, will also be available. The preregistration deadline has been extended to Friday. Runners can also sign up the day of the race for $20.
In addition to the 5k, there will be shorter events for children of all ages kicking off at 9 a.m. Entrants in the main race may run or walk.
This year the proceeds from the race and raffle will go to the Rhode Island Make-A-Wish foundation, which is trying to send a local child to Disney World. SAAC is hoping to match last year's total of $6,000. Fundraising has been tough so far, due to rumors of threatening weather, but Trivedi and others still remain optimistic about their chances of hitting the goal.
"We're pretty close. I think that we are going to make it," Trivedi said.
In the race's first year, donations went to the Fox Point Boys and Girls Club, where Zucconi first started playing sports, Trivedi said. Last year, proceeds went to The Tomorrow Fund for Children with Cancer at Hasbro Hospital, a charity that that helps pay mortgages and bills so parents can spend more time with their sick children.
Although the race is just one of many community service events run by SAAC throughout the school year, according to Burroughs, it is the most important.
"It really is SAAC's biggest event of the year," Burroughs said. "We've been planning this since before Christmas. It's nice to see what student athletes can do away from the sports fields."
For more information on the race, visit www.brownbears.com.
