Participants go extra mile at Winter Storm Hoops fundraiser

When it comes to raising money for cancer research, Shannon Aldridge isn't afraid to go the extra mile.

For the past five years, Aldridge and his wife Amy have coordinated a 5K run called Hoops for Life to raise money for cancer research and to remember their daughter Sahara, who died Nov. 5, 2007, from a malignant brain tumor.

"We always try to get the date as close to her birthday, July, 24, as possible," Aldridge said. "This year, it's on July 25, and it's like a huge birthday party."

Aldridge called the Hoops for Life 5K the largest birthday in Southeast Missouri, with plans to expand it every year.

This year for the first time, Hoops for Life hosted Winter Storm Hoops -- a 2.1-mile race through the Cape LaCroix trail, with a short detour.

Shannon Aldridge gives a speech at the beginning of the first Winter Storm Hoops 2.1 Mile run/walk on Saturday morning on the Cape LaCroix Trail in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

The race has a cap of 210 runners, which they hit in 16 days -- the fastest that's happened, Aldridge said. Amy had challenged her husband that if the event sold out in the first 21 days, he should wear a tutu to the race, and he accepted. After promoting the race on the radio and through a few other venues, he quickly realized he would be wearing a white and yellow tutu on race day.

Aldridge said many of the numbers involved the race stem from No. 21, Sahara's basketball number -- 2.1 miles, 210 runners ... it's all in remembrance of her.

He attributes the success of the races to the support Hoops for Life receives from members of the community. Without them, he said, their fundraising would never have been possible.

After Saturday morning's run, Aldridge said Hoops for Life has nearly reached $150,000 in donations that go to charitable, scientific and educational resources -- primarily for pediatric brain tumor research -- and to promote awareness and raise additional funding.

"We've just been so lucky in this area and Amy and I work really hard on this so people know that we're real," Aldridge said. "We're trying to save lives and work for the next generation. Just think about how amazing it would be if the money raised here in Cape Girardeau was the money that helped find a cure for cancer, because it's going to happen. One day doctors are going to find a cure, and what if that money was raised right here in Cape?"

Saturday morning was a beautiful day for the race, with the weather being close to 40 degrees at race time. Most were relieved the winter storm race didn't live up to it's name, but not Aldridge.

"I was hoping for 25 degrees and three inches of snow," he said. "It's called the Winter Storm. But I guess there's just not going to be any snow this January."

Hoodies were handed out to those who registered, and in each of the seven age groups, three medals were awarded to the fastest runners.

Overall in the men's and women's divisions, the top racers were Nate Martin and Tori Winters.

Aldridge was hesitant to elaborate on what the next new project will be for Hoops for Life, but seeing how successful the winter storm race was this year, he didn't see how they "couldn't not do it again."

For more information on Hoops for Life or to register for the next race or to how to donate visit the Hoops for Life website at hoopsforlife.net.

smaue@semissourian.com

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