Arthritis affects one out of every seven people, and the annual Run for the Roses helps to raise money for those people.

On Oct. 4, the Ames Area Running Club and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority will be hosting the 12th Annual Run for the Roses, which will be held at the Iowa State track in Ames.

There will be a 5K run/walk and a 10K run, with several age group divisions.

The first female and male to finish will receive an award, and the top three finishers in each division of the 5K and 10K runs also will receive awards.

The entry fee for the run is $15 if postmarked by Saturday, $18 if in by Oct. 3 and $20 on race day. Included in the fee is a long-sleeve Run for the Roses T-shirt, a rose for each finisher, an omelet breakfast after the race and a chance to win one of more than 60 door prizes.

All proceeds go to the arthritis research grants. Lisa Gardner, member of Alpha Omicron Pi, said $5,600 was donated last year and 680 runners participated in the race.

“This goes to a good cause, and there are a lot of things people get out of this,” Gardner said.

Mike Clayton, president of the Ames Area Running Club and co-race director for Run for the Roses, said an 8-year-old has been the youngest to participate in the race, and the oldest runner was 72 years old.

“This is for a good cause, and you don’t have to be a good runner,” Clayton said.

“A lot of people walk the race. Just go out and have a good time,” he said.

Beth Henrickson, member of the Ames Area Running Club, has run in the race for the past seven years. She has been running both the 5K and the 10K each year.

“It’s an excellent course, and it’s very well-managed with many water stops,” Henrickson said. “It’s a good goal for people.”

To register for the Run for the Roses, contact the Ames Area Running Club at 292-6604, Lisa Gardner at Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, 292-3993, or register through the Internet at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~stu_org/AOPi/run.html.