Many NIU students and DeKalb residents rolled out of bed extra early Saturday morning to attend the fifth annual Wheel-A-Thon.

The event, hosted by Regional Access & Mobilization Project, 1022 W. Lincoln Highway and made possible by community sponsors, raised funds to provide help to people with disabilities, said Grace Warren, service manager at the DeKalb RAMP office.

“We are trying to raise the awareness of the disabled in our community,” Warren said.

Early risers gave Warren hopes of a high turnout. People showed up as early as 9:15 a.m., Warren said. RAMP expected a high turnout for this year’s Wheel-A-Thon.

RAMP encouraged the participants to use wheelchairs provided by RAMP to wheel around a one-and-a-half mile course that wound through NIU’s campus to experience what it’s like to be disabled.

The course provided many different everyday situations disabled people deal with on a regular basis.

Members of the Alpha Phi Omega Team, wishing to be cited only as a group, enjoyed their experience even though the team did not have the easiest time wheeling its way up Lucinda Avenue’s small incline.

Potholes, uneven sidewalks and other various obstacles posed more problems than they had realized, they said.

“It’s really fun and a lot more meaningful than just handing over a check,” one member said.

Other participants were happy to donate to RAMP.

Mark Borecki, an NIU graduate student, turned out for the fourth consecutive year to walk the course and support RAMP.

“It’s a good event for public awareness,” Borecki said. “You get to see what it’s like for people who have to be in a wheelchair on a daily basis.”

After wheeling around NIU, participants enjoyed a complimentary picnic and award ceremony for the top fundraising teams.