April 5, 2007

Villanova University and its student-athletes are teaming up to help benefit terminally ill children. Saturday, April 28, is the date for the inaugural "Running with the Wildcats", a 5K campus run to raise funds and awareness for the "each one counts" Foundation.

"each one counts" is a foundation created to help fund pediatric hospice providers that ease the physical pain and suffering of terminally ill children. One of its founders is Villanova graduate Brian Harrington, a former men's basketball player at the university who was a part of the Wildcats' 1985 NCAA Championship squad.

"Our hope is that this run will bring greater awareness for the need of pediatric hospice," states Harrington. "Each year over 50,000 children in the US need hospice care and less than one percent get it. Funds raised at the `Running of the Wildcats' will go directly to programs that ease the physical pain and suffering of terminally ill children.

"The Villanova students immediately got on board with supporting the run because they understand the debilitating impact of physical pain on their performance; they can only imagine the devastating impact of physical pain on a terminally ill child and their families."

Race registration begins on Monday, April 23rd at the Connelly Center. It is also possible to register prior to the start of the race at 10:00 a.m. on April 28th. For more information go to www.eachonecounts.org.