NIU students, faculty and anyone elso who can walk five miles will have a chance to help seriously ill children in the second annual Walk-a-thon for the Starlight Foundation.

The Starlight Foundation, an organization which grants wishes for seriously ill children, will hold the walk-a-thon fundraiser this Saturday at noon.

The walk-a-thon, sponsored by the American Marketing Association, is five miles long and will begin at the Huskie Stadium, circle around campus and then end at the stadium, said coordinator Mary Price.

Price said last year the walk-a-thon raised $7,200, this year she hopes more money is raised.

The money raised from the walk-a-thon will either be donated to the regional headquarters of Starlight, a national organization, or it could be used to help someone locally, she said.

Price said about 200 people have signed up for the noon event. She said a table will be set up at the stadium Saturday morning for people to join in the walk-a-thon.

People can sign up until the last minute, she said.

Prizes will go to the individual and to the organization that raises the most money.

The walkers will raise money through sponsors, who agree to pay a certain amount for every mile walked.

The B-95 van will be covering the walk-a-thon, Price said. CNN will probably cover the event and WGN Ch. 9 in Chicago might cover it, she said.

Some organizations that will be participating in the walk-a-thon are the Student Association, Health Enhancement Services and the NIU women’s basketball team, Price said.