Maple View Farm

Nourish International hosted the Maple View Challenge on Sunday in place of the Hold'em For Hunger Tournament.

Ice cream and running probably aren't the best mix, but they did raise money to help fight world hunger.

On Sunday, Nourish International hosted the Maple View Challenge to raise money for the group.

More than 250 participants came out for the race, which was set up in place of the group's annual Hold 'Em For Hunger Tournament. That event was canceled in March because it violated a state law against gambling.

"It was very frustrating for us," said Amy Zipursky, co-chairwoman of Nourish International. "We had to cancel it only six weeks before the event, and we had already committed to people."

The group's goal was to raise at least $25,000 during the year, which would fund sustainable development projects in Mexico, Honduras and Peru this summer.

Last year about 500 people participated in the poker tournament, and that number was expected to double this year.

The Maple View Challenge brought in about $3,800 for Nourish International, said senior David Campbell, the race organizer. Each runner paid a $15 entrance fee, and Maple View Ice Cream in Carrboro provided the ice cream for a reduced price.

Zipursky said Nourish met its goal for the year, through the challenge and other fundraisers.

Campbell, who is not involved with the group, approached it with the idea of the race.

"We came to them and proposed this idea, and they were elated," he said. "It was a harebrain idea that we put together in four weeks."

The runners began at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and ran about a mile to the intersection of Roberson and Weaver streets in Carrboro. Upon their arrival, the runners had to eat a pint of ice cream and then make the long journey back.

Some participants came dressed in costumes.

"It was very, very hot, but it was very exciting," said senior Nick Hutchins, who came dressed as a gorilla and won best costume, along with his friend Matt Hamrick. "There were lots of people cheering us on, and that kept us going."

The run was modeled after the annual Krispy Kreme Challenge at N.C. State University. In that race, participants must run four miles and eat a dozen doughnuts.

Despite early concerns, the ice cream didn't really affect the runners, as only one person vomited.

For some, the ice cream actually provided relief.

"We actually felt better on the way back," junior Bri O'Donnell said. "The ice cream energized us."

Third-year graduate student Kevin Crosby finished first.

"It was a lot of fun," Crosby said. "But I felt pretty sick during the last 800 meters."

Zipursky said the race will become a regular addition to Nourish International's lineup.

"It's definitely going to be a staple for Nourish," she said. "People were very excited for this event."