The pot of gold isn’t found at the end of the rainbow, but rather at the beginning for participants of the seventh annual 5K run/walk for non-violence on April 26.

Donations from businesses and pledges will have been generated when the estimated 100 runners and walkers toe the starting line near the Newman Catholic Center.

“As much as students grumble about having to wake up at 10 in the morning, they do show up,” said Roy Lanham, adviser of the Haiti Connection, one of the two projects that will receive funds from the walk. “The energy of the people is really wonderful.”

T-shirts can be purchased and orders must be received by April 7. The entry fee for walking or running is a free-will donation.

Lanham, who has participated in each of the previous six years, said the walk normally generates $2,000 to $2,500; of that total, 80 percent will go toward the Haiti Connection and 20 percent will go to the Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

“Right now we are raising money for a sistern (a water-catching device) project,” said Haiti Connection member Sean Barth. “There is a community that we kind of partnered up with where we are doing a clean water project.”

Although the name may suggest anti- or pro-war affiliation, Lanham said the walk is intended to battle the violence of poverty.

“Students see domestic and sexual violence, but the violence of poverty – sometimes people don’t speak of that,” he said. “If someone doesn’t have the means to care for themselves; if they don’t have health care or shelter, that is a violence done to that family.”

Brenda Weber, chairperson for the walk, said some businesses were apprehensive of donating money because of the political misconception, but agreed after the situation was explained.

“The walk is to promote non-violence in the local community and Haiti,” she said.

Lanham said the walk will be in its seventh year and that is enough to detest any possible war slants. The choice to use the 5K walk as a fundraiser as opposed to a dinner or a concert was made a few years ago.

The first couple of years the event was co-sponsored by the Student Wellness Program, which wanted to combine physical health with the mental and spiritual.

“The Student Wellness Program said violence is so bad against the body, so why not do something good for it?” Lanham said.

The walk begins at 10 a.m. April 26 at the Newman Catholic Center with a free lunch following.

Additional information can be picked up at Newman, or by calling Weber at 348-9250 or Newman at 348-0188.