Great Pumpkin Run For Research Takes Place Oct. 31 at Gold Dome

SHREVEPORT, La— It is time to lace up the running and walking shoes and take part in the 13th Annual Great Pumpkin Run for Research, Saturday, October 31 at the Gold Dome on the Centenary College campus.

Sponsored by the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Sportspectrum Race Management and Centenary College, the race-day activities start at 8 a.m. with a 1/2 mile kids run, and 5K run and health walk.

The crisp, fall morning weather sets the mood perfectly for the family-oriented festivities before, during and after the run! Activities include Halloween costume contest, pumpkin carving contest, face painting, anti-tobacco and healthy lifestyle awareness for cancer prevention.

Every year more than 600 people participate in the Great Pumpkin Run for Research, witch this year falls on Halloween morning. Great prizes, and teams with the largest numbers of registered runners win cash prizes (additional recognition for the largest media team). Pre-registration for the 5K run by is $15 by October 17, increasing to $18 until October 30. Race-day registration is $20. The half-mile kids run registration is $10 before October 17, and then increases to $15. All proceeds support cancer research at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center at LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport.

Feist-Weiller Cancer Center is partnering with Centenary College to host a media challenge. The goal...to find out which television, radio station or newspaper can field the largest team for the event. Others who participate will have the opportunity to support their favorite media personalities and predict which media professional will finish the race first. 

Feist-Weiller Cancer Center and Centenary College want the media challenge to promote healthy lifestyles for the prevention of chronic illnesses like cancer. Feist-Weiller Cancer Center's Great Pumpkin Run for Research spotlights ongoing cancer research in Shreveport that results in potential new treatments.

Following the Run, the Centenary College Department of Health and Exercise Science will give a tour of the new human performance lab with state-of-the-art VO2 max testing equipment.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.