Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority has invited the greek community, students and Isla Vista residents to jog for a good cause this Saturday in the third annual Kappa Dash.

The Dash is a 5-kilometer run/walk that will start at 11 a.m. The run will begin at the Kappa house at 6525 Picasso Road, loop around the lagoon and end back at the Kappa house. The race is open to anyone and costs $12 to enter. Proceeds from the race will be split between two organizations involved in the fight against breast cancer, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

Registration for the race will begin at 10 a.m. in Greek Park, which is located at the corner of Segovia Road and Embarcadero del Norte. Candace Lefevre, Kappa’s philanthropy chair for the event and a sophomore sociology major, said a local band called the Awakend will perform during the registration. Participants are invited to a party in Greek Park after the race, which will feature a DJ, free food and a raffle.

Lefevre said the sorority selected the two charities in order to help fight breast cancer on the national and local level. Race for the Cure is a national organization and is one of the frontrunners in breast cancer research, while the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides mammograms and other services for underprivileged women in Santa Barbara. Lefevre said she hopes the event will counteract stereotypes associated with sororities and fraternities.

“We are hoping it will help out with the negative image of the greek system,” Lefevre said.

Ashley Lewis, Kappa president and a junior global studies major, said the Kappa Dash is different from most major greek fundraisers because it encourages everyone in the community to participate.

“Normally, large philanthropy events focus on just the greek system,” Lewis said. “I think we’ve received just as much support from the greek community with the event being open to everyone as we would have if it was only open to greeks.”

Lewis said she hopes to beat the $6,000 raised by the event in 2003. The money raised comes from participants’ entry fees and donations from area businesses and parents of Kappa members.

“We sent out letters requesting donations to over 300 companies in Santa Barbara,” Lewis said. “This year, we’re shooting for about $8,000.”

Last year’s event attracted about 200 runners, Lefevre said, and her goal for this year is 300. She said 100 have already signed up for this year’s race, including members from nearly all the greek organizations, the triathlon team and ROTC.

Lefevre said all prizes and food for the event were donated by the community, including $100 in groceries from Gelson’s Market and gift certificates from local restaurants and fitness clubs. All participants will receive a Kappa Dash T-shirt, and the top three finishers in the individual and team categories will win prizes.

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