NORMAN — A CEO said he will donate $1,000 to the Harold Hamm Oklahoma Diabetes Center for each University of Oklahoma Athletics Department coach or staff member who beats him in the Oklahoma Run to Defeat Diabetes 5K Run.
Bart McDonough, CEO of Agio Technology, is placing a limit on 10 donations for the five-kilometer run that’s scheduled to start 9 a.m. Saturday at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, though he is sure he will run well.
“I’m very confident about how I will perform in this race,” McDonough said Tuesday. “I can’t wait to see who I’m up against. I trust the OU Athletics Department can bring the heat.”
The second annual event will start with a one-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K run. The finish line will be inside the stadium on the 50-yard line.
Race proceeds will go to the Harold Hamm Oklahoma Diabetes Center for diabetes prevention and detection programs.
Agio Technologies is a New York-based information technology company with its operations headquarters on the OU campus at Three Partners Place. McDonough said his company was a co-sponsor for the diabetes run last year, but Saturday will mark his first time running in it.
“We got inspired through the bad news we read about Oklahoma having such poor health,” McDonough said. “As a health-conscious management team, we wanted to do more than just promote health within; we wanted to put our money where our mouth is and lead by example.
Every OU Athletics Department who signs up, regardless of whether he or she beats McDonough to the finish line, will get free registration and a “Beat Bart Challenge” T-shirt.
McDonough said he will present a check to Ryan Fightmaster, the event’s founder, at the stadium right after the run.
“With all these people working in athletics just across the street from us, we thought, ‘Let’s get out there and try to raise some money and have some fun,” he said.
Coaches and athletics staff can register at www.goagio.com. Anyone who wants more information on the run, including registration, can visit okdiabetesrun.com.
James S. Tyree 366-3541 jtyree@normantranscript.com
