Supporters of women’s athletics to don walking shoes

Supporters of women’s athletics to don walking shoes

Put on your walking
shoes and hit the track Oct. 29 for the “Stepping Out
for the Owls” walkathon benefiting Rice women’s
athletics.

Funds raised
through the event will be used to expand travel schedules,
purchase video equipment to improve athletic performances,
buy laptop computers for students’ use when traveling
and enhance financial assistance for fifth-year students.

The walkathon
will include refreshments, door prizes and awards. All walkers
will receive a “Stepping Out for the Owls” T-shirt
and tickets to the Nov. 4 Rice vs. Southern Methodist University
football game. Special prize categories include oldest walker,
most money raised, largest number of pledges, youngest walker
and “True Blue Owl.” Since the walkathon is being
held just before Halloween, walkers are encouraged to wear
costumes, and prizes also will be given out for best costume
and most unusual costume.

Walkers will
include Rice student-athletes and coaches from volleyball,
basketball, tennis, swimming and cross county and track
and field.

Cynthia Cooper,
member of the four-time WNBA champion Houston Comets, is
the event’s honorary chairwoman. She has earned numerous
honors and awards, including the WNBA’s Most Valuable
Player award in 1997 and 1998 and the Comets’ MVP in
1997-2000. She has been a Western Conference starter in
the WNBA All-Star Game twice and was selected for the All-WNBA
First Team four times.

After entry
forms are received, a sponsor form will be sent to the walker.
There is no entry fee for walkers who obtain pledges. Walkers
who will not be seeking pledges also can participate for
an entry fee of $25. Out-of-towners can participate as “ghost
walkers” for a fee of $25, and anyone can make a donation
to women’s athletics in lieu of walking.

Entry forms
are available from Melissa Salton, assistant to the association
athletic director for women’s athletics. She can be
reached at (713) 348-5774.