Hoops for Life

Next month many will gather in Cape Girardeau to remember a young girl with a big heart.

Sahara Aldridge died on Nov. 5, 2007 from a brainstem glioma, a malignant brain tumor with no cure. She was 13 years old.

Aldridge's nickname was "Hoops," and in 2010 the Hoops for Life 5K Run/Walk was started to raise funds for pediatric brain tumor research.

In its inaugural year about 325 participated. Last year 562 runners and walkers helped raise $9,000. Shannon Aldridge, Sahara's father, hopes this year's events will raise between $10,000 and $20,000 or more.

An addition to the fundraiser is a post-run concert with Grammy-winning musician Rick Springfield. Springfield's connection to the Aldridge family dates back to a concert Sahara and her mother attended and met the singer. In 2006 Springfield performed a benefit concert in Cape Girardeau to help cover Sahara's medical costs.

The run will start at 8 a.m. July 21 in Kiwanis Park. A ceremony at 8 p.m. will precede the concert, which begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Bedell Performance Hall on Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. Concert tickets may be purchased at the River Campus box office, by phone at 651-2265 or online at www.rivercampusevents.com. A registration form for the run/walk can be found at www.hoopsforlife.net.