[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/runadjusted.jpg”]What could be finer on a Saturday morning in November, than a brisk five-km run or walk around McMaster's beautiful campus? We rather sedentary souls could come up with a few things perhaps. Breakfast in bed? A good book by a roaring fire?

However, throw into the equation the chance to raise money for an excellent cause, add free massage and foot-care from registered practitioners to sooth post-event aches and pains, mix in delicious refreshments donated by local stores, and the prospect starts to look intriguing.

Top it all off with a fantastic array of prizes for a bib-number draw and the case for pulling the running shoes out of the dark depths of the closet becomes compelling.

The Run for the Arts, which takes place tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 18), is the brainchild of Level III humanities student Gabrielle Michel.

By combining her interest in running with fundraising experience gained from working in a commercial gallery, Michel hopes to raise money for the production of the high-quality glossy catalogue which accompanies the final exhibition of the graduating art class.

The show is put on at the McMaster Museum of Art, and, as an important component of students' risumis, its catalogue must meet professional standards. The problem of how to finance it, is a perennial one, and as students of all disciplines have found, imaginative fundraising ideas need to be backed up by solid fundraising techniques.With this in mind, Michel and her fellow organizers plan to carefully document their efforts and establish a reference resource for future classes.

While raising funds may be the main goal of the run, it is certainly not the only one. The event aims to bring members of the University and wider community together on McMaster's campus, and the interest shown by the local businesses who are supporting the event, has been quite amazing, says Michel.

The School of Art, Drama & Music is hoping the Run for the Arts will become an annual feature on Hamilton's running calendar, and while the course has been designed to be fun not ferocious, it has been officially verified at an exact 5-km, so more serious runners will be able to judge their times, and vie for medals.

Participants can register for the run (or walk) on Saturday, November 18, outside Togo Salmon Hall between 7 and 8:30 a.m. – the run kicks off at 9:30a.m., and the entrance fee is $22.

Photo: Level III humanities student Gabrielle Michel with the souvenir five-km run T-shirt.