The University of Texas at El Paso’s ROTC Fighting Miner Battalion cadets will wake up the spirits during the 13th annual Halloween Costume Fun Run/Walk, which will start at 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in the P-9 parking lot north of Kidd Field off of Glory Road.
“We do it for the esprit de corps and to see the different personalities of the cadets,” said Army Capt. Diana L. Williams, assistant professor of military science. “It’s something fun we do.”
This year’s free event will be open to the El Paso and UTEP communities. Organizers expect about 350 participants for the costumed footrace around campus.
Among the confirmed guest runners are Army Col. Ed Manning, the Fort Bliss garrison commander and UTEP cheerleaders.
Cadets request that participants donate canned goods, toiletries and gently-used men’s and women’s clothing—especially cold weather coats—to benefit the Veterans’ Outreach Program at the Opportunity Center, 1208 Myrtle Ave.
The program helps stabilize homeless veterans with a place to stay, food to eat and the chance to find a job or enroll in school. Every donation helps, said Julio Gutierrez, program coordinator.
“I’ll be there to walk,” he said. “We appreciate (the battalion’s) support. It keeps me from having to beg at the food pantries.”
The one-mile walk and two-mile run should finish in 35 minutes. It will be followed by a costume contest.
The winning civilians will get a goody bag filled with Army-related gifts. Military winners will get gift certificates from Chili’s Grill & Bar or Cinemark USA movie theaters. The group that supplies the most donations will receive a plaque.
Planners realize that busy schedules could keep some participants away, but they ask people to drop off any items that could benefit the Veterans’ Outreach Program. Cadets plan to place drop-off boxes at the Union Building, the University Bookstore and the University Library.
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