Museum's annual Dino Dash raises $20K

More than 2,500 registered runners, including students, alumni, children and community residents raced around the MSU Museum Sunday morning to take part in the Dinosaur Dash, the MSU Museum’s annual fundraising event.

The event is a fall tradition held on the first Sunday of October that many community members look forward to, new director of the MSU Museum Gary Morgan said.

“Over time, this has become something of a Lansing institution,” Morgan said. “People talk about this event from year to year and it is actually something that people look forward to in the fall.”

Sunday’s race was the 24th Dinosaur Dash and has been sponsored by the MSU Federal Credit Union for the past 23 years, museum spokeswoman Lora Helou said.

The registration fee to participate in the race helps create the net profit of this event, which aids in museum costs, Morgan said.

Helou said Sunday’s Dinosaur Dash raised about $20,000 for the museum and during the past 23 years has brought in about $250,000 total.

“This is primarily a fundraiser and it’s made possible by our various sponsors and we run a number of fundraisers through the year to support various programs of the museum,” Morgan said.

“We are a fundamental part of Michigan State University of course, but to do the range of programs we need to do, we need public support and we need the community to be behind us.”

The core of the event is the competitive, fast and flat 5K-certified road race that brings together students and community families at the outdoor race.

“It’s a competitive 5K race so it really brings out a lot of the hard-core running community, and then we have two divisions for the kids, including the Museum Mile and the Mini-Dash, so it really makes it a family activity day,” Helou said.

“It’s just great to have something centered right here at the museum like this because we get a lot of visitors come inside and explore and it is a really a great opportunity for people to come on campus and have a great outdoor fitness oriented activity.”

Runners trudged by on the cloudy morning to the finish line placed on West Circle Drive, between the MSU Museum and Main Library.

“Today was the first time I have ever ran a 5K and if I can do it, anyone can do it,” 5K participant and MSUFCU employee Chris Trumble said. “I ran once to practice for it and I was able to finish so anybody can do this race. You just have to push yourself.”

Trophies were awarded for the best overall times in both men’s and women’s running and walking categories for the 5K. In addition, children 12 and under could run the Museum Mile along with a Mini-Dash, a 200-yard dash for children 6 and under.

“We get the top athletes who can take the accolades right through to family members and kids who can participate and enjoy it, and at the end of it they can go into the museum have a look at our exhibition and particularly look at the dinosaurs which inspired the event,” Morgan said.