A Glo4Haiti run will take place March 26 at the research park at Mississippi State University. The run is sponsored by Public Relations Student Society of America.
Laura Walton, assistant professor of communication, said after an initial mission trip to Haiti this past June she felt compelled to raise awareness for the plight in Haiti.
“That was how the trip started, and when the PRSSA president and I were talking early fall, she was talking about her goals and ideas for her year as president of PRSSA,” Laura  Walton said.
Katie Beth Walton, PRSSA President and senior communication major, said she wanted to implement a community service aspect into PRSSA, and the organization decided on the Glo4Haiti run.
“We have a team of people within in PRSSA that have made flyers and put the whole thing together,” Katie Beth Walton said.
Laura Walton said the proceeds raised from Glo4Haiti will go directly to sponsoring a medical mission trip back to Haiti in May. The trip is through First United Methodist-Louisville, and partnered by Hispaniola Mountain Missions out of Jackson, Miss.
“The benefits go to the medical and dental mission in May. All the proceeds go to pay for our medicine and equipment,” Laura Walton said. “Any additional funds will contribute getting the nurses, doctors and team there.”
Laura Walton said participants are encouraged to wear glow attire to the run, which will be held at Thad Cochran Research Park.
“The really cool thing about the race is that it is at the research park, so it’s a closed course; it won’t be going through campus,” Laura Walton said. “It’s three laps, so if you only finish one and that’s all you want to do, you can call it a day.”
Laura Walton said she hopes the run will raise awareness to the growing state of poverty facing the Haitian community.
“About 77 percent of Haitians live in poverty. Poverty in Haiti is people who live on less than a dollar a day. About 80 percent of Haitians live on less than $2 a day; when you talk about a family of six eating off of $2 a day who go days without meals,” Laura Walton said. “The saddest part to me is how close Haiti is to America. You can get on an airplane in Atlanta, Ga., and be there in three hours. It’s just heartbreaking, and we’re so close and we just need to do more to help.”
 Those who want to register for the run may do so at glo4haiti.com. The registration fee is $25. To be guaranteed an official race glow-in-the-dark t-shirt, participants must register by March 15.
In addition, Laura Walton said students will receive “swag bags” featuring items from LA Green, Deep South Pout and other local Starkville vendors. Participants will also be eligible for a $10 discount if interested in registering for “The Crucible,” which will be holding registration on race-night.
Katie Beth Walton said she hopes many members of the MSU community will come out and bring awareness to the cause in Haiti.
“We would love everyone to attend and help raise awareness, to give back to the community and support different organizations on campus,” Katie Beth Walton said. “This is the first event we’ve (PRSSA) held, and we would love other people’s support.”
Additional information can be found at glo4haiti.com or twitter.com/glo4haiti.