Annual Hoops for Life event set for Saturday

Editor's Note: Last year's Hoops for Life event raised $25,000. This number has been corrected below.

Sahara "Hoops" Aldridge would have turned 20 today.

Her father, Shannon Aldridge, calls the annual Hoops for Life charity 5k held in her memory "the biggest birthday party in Southeast Missouri," and this year's race will be the largest one to date.

This Saturday, hundreds of participants will run or walk to raise money at Kiwanis Park to fund research into childhood cancer. Last year's event brought 643 runners and generated $25,000. This year's participation goal is 700.

Since creating the race after losing their daughter to brain cancer in 2007, Shannon and his wife, Amy, have seen their event blossom into one of the biggest timed races in Missouri.

"[My daughter] was the best part of me. By far," her father said. "[Her death] could have broke us, but we were able to spin it into something that might help someone else."

As of Tuesday morning, 644 people were registered, surpassing the previous record by one and leaving the Aldridges only 56 away from their goal. Already, it promises to be a phenomenal turnout for a 5k.

"It's amazing, man. We always set these high goals and people look at us like we're crazy, but people come out," Shannon Aldridge said. "It's just an amazing community we have around here."

He explained that Hoops for Life is the only race to draw more than 500 participants in four consecutive years, a fact made more impressive considering it's held in late July.

"We try to make it different every year," Aldridge said. "Nobody wants to go to the same party every year."

This year's theme is "Who are you fighting for?" It encourages participants to personalize their runs and engage with other runners.

"It doesn't matter who you are. Everyone's been touched by cancer in some way or another," Aldridge said. "We want to encourage people to get off the couch and get involved."

This year's race features a 1.6-mile, noncompetitive power walk for those who want to get involved but aren't keen on the prospect of a full 5k. Another new feature this year is the Long-Distance Hoops Love program, which allows participants outside Missouri to register and run in a loved one's name.

"This year we didn't set a money goal, we set an attendance goal," Aldridge explained. "We said, 'Let's go crazy. Let's see how many people we can get to sign up.'"

There's still time to sign up, though web registration is closed. Printable registration forms are available online and may be submitted to Missouri Running Co. on Kingsway Drive in Cape Girardeau.

For those already registered, race packets will be available for pickup from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Missouri Running Co. Aldridge recommends participants pick up their packets in advance to avoid delays on race day.

Walk-ups on Saturday are also welcome; registration is $30 and runs from 6 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. The race begins at 8 a.m.

"I make a point of not starting one second past 8 o'clock," Aldridge said. "I know how annoying late starts are to the runners."

tgraef@semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

2100 Rotary Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

1720 Kingsway Drive, Suite 103, Cape Girardeau, MO