Sun Devils support Pat's Run with 30 shadow runs across US

Arizona State University alumni around the country will honor the legacy of former Arizona State and Arizona Cardinals football player Pat Tillman through a series of "shadow runs" across the United States in conjunction with the popular Pat’s Run set to take place April 20 in Tempe, Ariz.

The 4.2-mile run/walk, which last year drew more than 35,000 people in Tempe, is the signature fundraising event for the Pat Tillman Foundation, which was formed after Tillman’s death in 2004. Proceeds from Pat’s Run support the organization’s Tillman Military Scholars program, which supports active and veteran military servicemembers and their spouses by removing financial barriers to completing a degree program of choice.

In addition to the main race, this year 30 local chapters of the ASU Alumni Association will host shadow runs. The shadow runs are community-oriented, casual affairs, commonly held at parks, schools and recreation areas. The runs have grown from 150 runners participating in eight cities in 2009 to 1,174 runners participating in 25 cities last year.

Jen Bergmark, who coordinates the shadow run for ASU’s Los Angeles alumni chapter, noted that the group will be hosting its fifth run at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Around 75 runners participated last year. The chapter has brought in former teammates of Tillman to speak to runners about his legacy, as well as students involved in the Tillman Military Scholars program.

“We selected the Rose Bowl as our shadow run location because it is where Pat Tillman once played in the historic bowl game as a Sun Devil football player,” Bergman said. “I think our participants come to the run for the same reason we as a chapter organize the run: to keep Pat's memory alive. He was an extraordinary person and being part of an event that spreads his message of giving back is important.”

To view a complete list of cities hosting shadow runs in conjunction with Pat’s Run, go to http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pats-run/race-info/shadow-runs/. Additional information on the ASU Alumni Association’s participation in the main race in Tempe, visit http://alumni.asu.edu/volunteer/9th-annual-pats-run.