El Pasoans get ready to glow-in-the-dark as Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be raising money to help fund breast cancer research through their first-time race entitled  Glo the Park, which will be held Oct. 18 at Ascarate Park.

“It is the first-annual Glo the Park and we are trying to put more emphasis on the purpose of the race itself,” said John Payne, event manager for Komen El Paso. “We want to reach all kinds of demographics by emphasizing that it is not a competitive race, it is one-and-a-half mile race, so it is not that much, it is a fundraiser after all.”

According to Payne, the first race begins at 7 p.m. and Komen encourages participants to wear clothes that fit the glow-party theme.

“It is a night race, so we want people to use decorated shirts or accessories that glow in the dark,” Payne said. “We are expecting or wanting to see around 2,000 people for the race and party.”

Registration for the event will begin on Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. at Ascarate Park and the music will begin at 7:30 p.m.

“The event is being sponsored by Hoy Fox and the party will have deejays starting at 7:30 p.m. and we will have dancing and vendors, too,” Payne said.

Bryan Nyambui is participating at the event because he said he likes to support good causes.

“I personally like to keep active in events around me,” Nyambui said. “Also, because it is supporting a cause that matters.”

According to Nyambui, he has participated in fundraising races before and is excited to see this new Komen race.

“I have done Race for the Cure and the Aids Walk twice,” Nyambui said. “I enjoyed them all quite well and I expect no less from this one.”

Saul Otero, sophomore music major, said that he likes doing things that can cause a change.

“Supporting research doesn’t hurt anyone, and especially this kind of fundraiser, it helps you even,” Otero said.

According to Otero, it is his first fundraising race and he expects a good experience from the event.

“I’ve never done a race before, so it is hard to say what exactly I expect, but I am pretty sure the event will definitely be something to feel good about because it makes you feel you are making a change,” Otero said.

Registration fees for Glo the Park begins at $25 per individual and $20 per person for groups of 10.

For more information, visit komenelpaso.org/glo-the-park.

Leonardo Montañez may be reached at [email protected].