The Student Athlete Advisory Committee will organize a 5K around the Lunsford at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 21 at to raise money for the Wade family and cancer research.

Hudson Wade, 11, was diagnosed with leukemia on Sept. 21 and is receiving chemotherapy treatments at Cook’s Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth.

Registration for the 5K is $20. The race will start by the Hardin Administration Building. The first 200 participants to check in will receive a free T-shirt.

“Hudson is a fighter and even through all the tough times, he always has a smile on his face,” said Dorothy Swanson, a junior nursing major from White Oak.

Hudson’s mother, Laura Wade, is a nursing instructor in ACU’s School of Nursing, and his father, Kirk Wade, is the president of Abilene Christian Schools.

“SA has stepped up in a huge way,” said Kyle Karnei, a junior accounting major from Waco. “They have generously decided to be the title sponsor and cover funding for the operating expenses for the event. This will allow us to have no expenses and give more money to the Wade family.”

Beanies are available for purchase from the Abilene Christian Love Your Melon Campus Crew, and participants will receive free bracelets. Love Your Melon is an apparel brand run by college students around the country whose mission is to give a hat to every child battling cancer. The brand has partnered with CureSearch, so SAAC will donate partial funds to that organization to help support cancer research.

“I am so excited to see all the participants and to be able to show the Wades how much love and support they have coming their way,” Swanson said.

People can register the morning of the event or turn in the registration money to the ACU athletic offices. All checks can be made out to Abilene Christian University and all donations to the Wade family are gladly accepted.

To follow Hudson’s progress, visit his Facebook page, War Room for Hudson, and for more information about the 5K or Love Your Melon, email Swanson at dms12f@acu.edu.