WSU Women’s Lightweight Crew encourages WSU students and community members to run for their lives.

The 4th annual Run for Your Life 5K will take place on Oct. 27 and begins at the Student Recreation Center (SRC).

Since 2012, the lightweight crew has organized the Halloween-themed road run as a fundraiser for their team.

“It helps pay for our coach’s salaries and helps offset the out-of-pocket costs,” said Allison Thomas, the team’s future vice-commodore.

Lightweight crew is entering its fifth year, and while they do have varsity club status they don’t always receive much funding because of budget cuts.

Breanna Trimble, the team’s current vice-commodore, said that these out of pocket costs include travel expenses

“Right now we’re looking more into expanding our race schedule in the postseason,” she said.

Each year, the team travels to the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship.

“We’re the only lightweight university team in Washington,” said Trimble.

The 5k will begin at the tennis court parking lot and goes around campus, looping around by Ferdinand’s. Though the Halloween-themed event once included zombies patrolling different parts of the course, Trimble said they decided not to include that feature this year.

“Some of our runners told us they didn’t really like having zombies around,” she said.

Thomas said the team also has a fundraiser in the spring called Duck Derby, but this run is their primary fundraising project in the fall.

“It sounds scary,” Thomas said. “But it’s not scary- it’s a lot of fun.”

Sign up online at row.wsu.edu or at the race on Oct. 27. Registration is $20 for SRC members and $25 for non-members, and includes a T-shirt. Strollers, dogs and iPods are not allowed on the course.