One of my favorite events from last year, the annual Purdue Corgi Race is coming up and I couldn’t be more excited. This year the event is taking place Sunday, October 28th at 1:00 pm at the Purdue Grand Prix Track with 36 cute corgis signed up in different ages, sizes, and colors. I am super stoked for this event because it was so much fun last year and a great stress reliever seeing fluffy loaves of bread running.
I was able ask Sage Archer, one of the three main organizers and a student in the Coordinated Program in Dietics, about the Purdue Corgi Race to get more information about the cutest race at Purdue.
Her Campus: How did you get involved with the race?
Sage: I got involved with this event last year because I actually came up with the idea and then teamed up with Theta Tau to actually put it in action. This year we decided to have both the Purdue Give Hope, Fight Poverty Club and Theta Tau host it.
Her Campus: What does the corgi race consist of this year?
Sage: This year the event will consist of each corgi and their owner walking out to their theme song while the corgis wear their costumes. A short biography for each dog will also be read while they walk out. Spectators will be able to vote on their favorite corgis and costumes by donating money in their favorite corgis box. Each corgi will have a decorated donation box with the corgis name and number on it. Then the races will begin. We will have 7 heats and a final championship race that will have the winners of each heat. So 8 heats total. Then we will have a short awards ceremony for the race winners and costume contest winners. The costume contest winners are determined by which dogs raise the most money in their boxes. After all of that, spectators who bought VIP tickets will enter the Grand Prix Track and meet all of the corgis!
Her Campus: How is this corgi race different from last year’s corgi race?
Sage: This year’s race won’t be much different than last years, just a little more organized we’re hoping. However, there are quite a few more corgis than last year.
Her Campus: What is your favorite part of the corgi race?
Sage: My favorite part is the race portion just because you never know what the dogs are going to do. Some will full on sprint down the track while others just want to take their good ol sweet time and stare at the crowd. You just never know what to expect from them!
Her Campus: Where does the money raised from the corgi race go to?
Sage: All of the money raised from this event goes to Give Hope, Fight Poverty, including the additional money made from the costume contest voting. Give Hope, Fight Poverty is a nonprofit organization that works to provide financial support to orphaned children in eSwatini, Africa. I traveled to eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) in March with Give Hope, Fight Poverty and got to see firsthand where the money from last year’s corgi races went. They help to build housing for orphaned children, provide them with education, nutritional support, and much more.
Her Campus: Where can tickets to the corgi race be purchased?
Sage: Tickets can be purchased at goo.gl/ggRBRm. There are two options, general admission is $10 and only covers admission to watching the corgi races. The VIP option is $15 and covers admission as well as the corgi meet and greet. Tickets can also be bought at the door the day of the event but will be $3 more each. So $13 for general admission and $18 for VIP.
After asking Sage all these questions, I’m more excited for the corgi race. The money raised from the race goes to such a good cause and I hope all of you decide to go as well. Thank you so much to Sage Archer, Olivia Benter, and Cameron Barry for organizing such a great event!