NIU students, faculty and DeKalb residents can exercise and raise money for AIDS research at the same time today.

NIU’s Office of Campus Recreation will raise money for the City of Hope National Medical Center by sponsoring aerobics from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The program is open to the public.

“We are hoping for at least a hundred people,” said Jackie Zimmerman, graduate assistant to event coordinator Fabian Rozario.

“If we attract enough people, we hope to do it again next year,” Zimmerman said.

Participants in the event will raise funds by getting sponsors to donate money on a per-hour or flat-rate basis.

Donations also will be accepted from participants at $5 from students and $10 from others.

Tamaray Newquist from Sycamore, a member of the City of Hope, started the program. Newquist approached members of the OCR staff because it had the largest facility, Zimmerman said.

Donators of $3 will receive City of Hope T-shirts and $50 donators will receive a “goodies bag,” Zimmerman said.

The event will be led by 12 aerobic presenters who will do basic aerobics, but participants are not required to stay the entire three hours.

The City of Hope works for the AIDS Foundation all over the country. It is the first charity of this type in this area, she said.