When Elizabethtown College junior and Communications major Brianna “Bree” Komiske was looking to get involved in an activity on campus, she turned to Instagram and saw a post for a new running club that E-town sophomore and Business and Data Science major Cassidy Dunn announced she was launching.
The running club, open to all E-town students and employees, meets up at different locations on campus several times a week to get some mileage in—and all paces are welcome to join. Bree quite literally ran to the new club!
“I grew up in an active family who are avid bike riders,” Bree said. “One day, I decided I wanted to run alongside my parents riding bikes and my love for running grew from there and I have never stopped.”
Hitting the pavement was also a hobby of Cassidy’s, competing on her high school cross country team and participating in races in her hometown of Chester Springs, Pa.
“The running community is so great,” Cassidy said. “Being able to combine service and running is a perfect combination for us.”
Cassidy and Bree are taking their love for running on a purposeful journey. They both will run in the Ulman Foundation’s 4K For Cancer. It’s a runner’s dream that will take them across the country—starting in Baltimore on June 21 and ending in San Francisco on Aug. 8.
“Service is 100 percent a part of my life and I truly love making people happy,” Bree said.
Both runners applied to be a part of the service run and are hoping to raise $5,000 (Bree) and $10,000 (Cassidy) by May 1. The donations will provide services to cancer patients between the ages of 15 to 39. It’s the motivation of brightening up someone’s day that keeps the training and fundraising top priorities for both Bree and Cassidy.
“Our College’s motto Educate for Service has inspired us,” Cassidy said. “It’s all worth it.”
To donate, visit Bree’s webpage or Cassidy’s webpage. Follow along the Blue Jay’s running journey by visiting Cassidy’s blog page this summer.