Students and Ames residents will gather this weekend to use their legs to help find a cure for arthritis.

Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, along with the Ames area running club, will sponsor the 17th annual Run for the Roses on Sunday at 9 a.m. on the corner of Sheldon Ave. and Knapp St.

The event, which began in 1986, raises money for arthritis research.

Stacie Pettit, race coordinator of the 5k and 10k run/walk and senior in finance, said she feels the race is a positive step toward finding a cure for arthritis.

Pettit said many people may be unaware that arthritis can affect people of all ages, including children.

“[The race is] important for adults and children that have arthritis,” she said.

Last year, the event raised $7,500. The goal for this year is $8,000, Pettit said. A total of $61,000 has been raised since the race started.

Run for the Roses has been co-sponsored by the Ames Area Running Club for 17 years, said Mike Clayton, member of the running club and race sponsor. At the time the event began, both parties were looking for a way to raise money.

“[The running club was] looking for a race to sponsor, and the sorority was wanting to find a way to raise money for its philanthropy, so it worked out really well,” Clayton said.

The race is one of the largest greek sponsored events on campus and one of the top five nationwide within the chapter, Pettit said. Last year the race had 860 participants, although the highest number of race participants was 1,100.

About five months’ worth of preparation goes into the event, Pettit said.

“If you don’t get prepared early, you won’t have a successful race,” she said.

Don Muff is an Ames running club member and sponsor. In the event’s first year, less than 100 runners showed up, but participation is growing, he said. Many participants are Iowa State faculty, staff and students.

“One great thing about [the race] is that all of the profits go toward research grants and we’re proud of that,” Muff said.