The 16th Annual GO Run was held on Saturday, Sept. 16, on South’s campus. Presented by The Catranis Family Charitable Foundation, the GO Run raises funds for gynecologic oncology research taking place at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute.

The 5K and the one-mile fun run routes began and ended near the Hancock Whitney Stadium, and the 5K route went as far as Health Services Drive on Campus. 

Runners of all skill and endurance levels were participants. The GO Run began with a butterfly release by Nick Catranis, President of the Catranis Foundation, in memory of loved ones battling cancer. Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Research Laboratory, Dr. Jennifer Scalici, addressed the racers and sent them off shortly after with a blast from her air horn.

It wasn’t long before the first runner, Josiah Davis, finished the circuit in an impressive 16 minutes and 38 seconds. Davis is a runner with the Blue Bell Bombers, one of the many teams that came to show their support for the cause.

Shake Your Teal Feathers was another team at the GO Run. The team was formed in 2017 by Courtney Upton, who was undergoing her own cancer treatment at the time. The Teal Feathers run in her honor and have attended all annual GO Runs since its start.

Diane Langley, a member of the Teal Feathers, shared about the impact Upton still has on the people closest to her.

“There’s a couple that comes every year, and they ran today. Courtney was friends with this young girl and introduced her to this guy, now they’re married and they have a little girl… All of that happened after Courtney,” explained Langley.

Keith Evans, a graduate of South Alabama and racer for the Blue Bell Bombers, shared about his team and the weight the 16th annual GO Run carried for them.

“[The Blue Bell Bombers have] grown a lot in the past year. The big picture up here of Victor Birch, he was our leader, and this was his last race last year. We’re running this this year in remembrance of that,” explained Evans.

At the end of the event, many teams were recognized for their accomplishments and awards were presented to outstanding runners.

The Teal Feathers earned the award for having the largest team present at the GO Run, and the Sisterhood of Survivorship was the team that raised the most money. The Sisterhood is a Mitchell Cancer Institute support group for gynecologic cancer survivors.

This year, a special award was given to the individual who ran a time closest to 21:36, Victor Birch’s finishing time from last year’s run. Mark Perniciaro, shown above with his family, received this award with a time of 21:44.

Be sure to follow the GO Run Facebook page for information in preparation for the 17th annual race next year.