Two speech-language pathology majors paired up to plan the first Baby Steps 5K Run and Walk.
The event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday on University Green with pre-registration beginning at 8 a.m.
The 5K was created by seniors Audrey Van Acker and Alaina Hartman as an honors thesis project.
The event, which costs $5 to participate, will help buy books, which in turn will help build a library for the Head Start program in Delaware County.
According to the Head Start website, the organization “serves preschool age children from low-income families, as well as children with special needs.”
The organization currently provides assistance to approximately 180 children.
After taking several speech-language classes, Van Acker and Hartman developed the idea to help out the organization.
“We have a lot of different classes that talked about literacy and in our classes, we talked about Head Start,” Hartman said.
Van Acker and Hartman spent time in their classes researching the significance of pre-literacy and hope to enlighten those who attend their event of the importance of early education.
“In order for a kid to learn in school, they need to have basic literacy skills,” Hartman said. “They need to be able to read for all subjects in school. By providing students with literacy help, you are ultimately helping the student out in their long-term life.”
The two said they are hoping to have anywhere from 30 to 50 people show up for the event. They want to have enough people donate money and books so they can build a small library.
“The more books the best, but we aren’t really anticipating a certain amount,” Hartman said.
A raffle also will be at the event.
People can win prizes such as free entrees and appetizers, gift certificates, free art classes and even tickets to Ball State basketball games.
While the 5K event is scheduled for this weekend, there are more events that are scheduled for the future.
“We are hoping to get [some more books] from the sales after Christmas,” Van Acker said.
Because of the delay, they will donate the books next semester.
“We really want all of the work that we’ve put into [this event] to pay out for the kids in Delaware County,” Hartman said.
