Annual KGR 5K was held Saturday, April 25, 2015. (Optimist photo courtesy of Rudy Garza)

Galaxy’s second annual Kirk Goodwin Run benefit dinner will be at 7:30 Friday at the Grace Museum, and all money raised will help fund the next KGR.

KRG is a 5K and half marathon that Galaxy members host every spring semester. The money raised from the run is donated to a family struggling with significant medical expenses or to research funds.

“Galaxy started the KGR in 1984,” said Troy Osborn, senior accounting and finance major from Salt Lake City, Utah. “Kirk Goodwin, who was a member of Galaxy, died in a car accident. We began the run in his honor to help his family pay medical bills. His family asked us to continue the run to help other families in similar situations.”

Galaxy added the half marathon to the 5K a few years ago, which raised the cost of funding the run.

“The KGR benefit dinner started so we could raise money to cover the cost of both the 5K and the half marathon and not have to worry about having to pay for everything out of pocket,” said Blake Harpold, junior information systems major from Fredericksburg. “Anything that is excess goes straight to what the KGR run raises.”

78 people attended last year’s dinner, not including active Galaxy members and new pledges.

“So far we have had 70 people buy tickets beforehand,” Harpold said. “We are expecting to have 100 people attend, so we have about 30 seats left.”

Tickets for the dinner are $50 per plate. Monty Tuttle, a friend of Goodwin, will speak at the dinner about Goodwin and what the KGR is. Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, is the main speaker for the night.

“This is not only a tradition that matters, but one that gives back,” Harpold said. “It pulls the best out of us in putting this on. Not only the dinner, but the run. Our club really pulls together, and you can see the best out of everyone which is a great experience. The KGR is not about Galaxy; it’s about helping others and giving back because we’ve been given so much.”

The next KGR 5K and half marathon will be April 23.