About 350 people took to the streets Saturday morning in an effort to raise money and awareness during the Project Haiti 5K run.
The race, which spanned 3.08 miles, helped raise $6,500 for Project Haiti, according to Emmanuelle Topiol, the leader of the project.
The proceeds will go toward the annual Project Haiti medical trip, which will send a group to Haiti and the Dominican Republic in March.
While on the trip, students, faculty and staff from the UF College of Medicine and Shands Hospital will provide free medical care and everyday necessities to those in need of medical attention.
Topiol said this was the first time the group has hosted a 5K run as a fundraiser.
"They need us a lot down there, so anything we can bring and any support from the UF community helps," Topiol said.
The race course curved around Lake Alice.
The course began along Hull Road and came to an end at the Commuter Lot on Gale Lemerand Drive.
A giant arch of red and blue balloons awaited the runners at the finish line.
The first male and female participants to cross the finish line were each rewarded with a medal.
In addition to raising money from the race, participants also donated about 10 pairs of used running shoes for the group members to take to their patients in Haiti.
The Project Haiti group will continue collecting shoes and other donations until the trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic in March.
Despite the early start at 7:30 a.m., the runners were energized.
"It's not hard waking up on a Saturday when you know it's for something good," UF senior Ashley Kerr said.
