Rain may have poured down, but that did not stop more than 400 people from raising funds to combat cancer in the eighth annual Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer 5k race yesterday morning.

The race, which was about three miles, started at 10 a.m. outside the Intramural Building, going through campus roads and ending at its starting point.

"I haven't had a much better feeling ever than when that race started today," Jill DeBerardinis (senior-finance), the overall director of Coaches vs. Cancer, said. "It's an amazing thing what we do."

DeBerardinis said that last year the organization raised $25,000 in total donations. The money was raised through donations, registration fees and a spaghetti dinner. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society, she said.

The pre-registration fee was $12 before April 8 and $15 after. The race was open to all students, as well community members, DeBerardinis said.

"I ran in it last year, and it was fun, so I figured I might as well come out and run it again. Plus, it's not snowing," Emily Shimp (sophomore-agricultural science) said.

After the race, runners enjoyed free food and drinks and music provided by a local radio station.

"It's a good feeling to be done with the race. The reason I did it was to cure cancer, and you get free food," Patrick McClanahan (sophomore-physics) said.

Prizes were given out for first, second and third place winners in different age divisions for men and women. The overall male and female winners also received an $85 gift certificate to Rapid Transit Sports.

Bob Chandler, the overall male winner, clocking in at 17:29, said he was running to support a friend that died of cancer whom he worked with at the Stanford Research Institute. The overall female winner was Carly Petrarca (freshman-industrial engineering), who finished the race in 19:40.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a program that works with the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches to support and fight cancer.

As of press time yesterday, the final amount of funds raised was not yet calculated.