The theme for Saturday's Project Malawi 5K in South Park could be "Run locally, help globally," as the more than 30 active members of SLIM raise money and awareness for an international public health project.

SLIM stands for Student Leaders in International Medicine, a University of Pittsburgh organization focused on worldwide public health issues. Proceeds from Project Malawi 5K will help defer costs of sending eight SLIM members on a four-week needs assessment trip to the African nation of Malawi this summer.

While in Malawi, students plan to make the capital city of Lilongwe their base for travel to outlying areas to meet with community leaders and hospital and school officials. These meetings will help the group design service trips for the future, possibly conducting day camps for youth or working in rural clinics. While in the countryside, SLIM members hope to contribute to construction of wind turbines to power existing clinics.

While many African nations face significant health issues, SLIM has chosen to focus on Malawi because of existing ties between that country and the University of Pittsburgh. SLIM will partner with members of another Pitt undergraduate organization, Student Global AIDS Project.

Katherine Kelley, race director for Project Malawi 5K, is an active member of SLIM and will be one of the eight students traveling to Malawi. She is majoring in biology and history of art in architecture at Pitt and hopes to attend medical school in the future.

Although not a road racer, Kelley runs for stress relief, currently logging about 10 miles a week, mostly on the treadmill. She is looking forward to spring weather in Oakland and running with a friend on neighborhood streets.

Project Malawi 5K begins in South Park near the ice rink on Corrigan Drive. The loop course is partly flat, partly hilly but runs entirely on paved park drives.

Although Project Malawi 5K is a timed event, the emphasis is on participation. T-shirts are guaranteed to the more than 200 currently pre-registered but will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event.

Day-of-event registration opens at 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. start and costs $20 for adult participants, $10 for students.

To encourage student participation, a free shuttle from the Pitt Student Union at Bigelow Boulevard and Fifth Avenue will be available at 7:30 a.m.

For information about Project Malawi 5K Run-Walk at 9 a.m. Saturday in South Park or about SLIM, call Katherine Kelley at 724-494-4683 or visit www.slimpitt.org

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 8:30 a.m.: Just a Short Run, North Park. Starts at boathouse with choice of 5K, half marathon and 30K. 412-490-0881 or www.justashortrun.netSaturday, 11 a.m.: Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K, Cooksburg. Run out and back along the Clarion River, handcrafted pottery awards. 814-393-2081 or www.clariontrack.comSunday, 3 p.m.: Run-Walk for Someone Special, Sykesville. Run 5 miles or walk 2 miles to benefit ARC summer camp for citizens with cognitive, physical and developmental disabilities. 814-938-4416 or erinandjosh@pennswoods.netApril 7, 10 a.m.: Fool's Run 10K and 3-Mile Fun Walk, Indiana. The 29th annual event begins at Indiana Ice Center and is the first race in Indiana County Triple Crown Series. 724-349-0501April 14: Yough River Trail Council Half Marathon and 5K, Connellsville. 724-628-5500April 15, 9 a.m.: The Rock, Roll and Stroll 5K Race, Slippery Rock. Benefits American Heart Association. sruapac@yahoo.comApril 21, 9 a.m.: Riverside Band Boosters Band-Aid 10K and 5K Run, 5K Walk, Ellwood City. Benefits Riverside Band Boosters. 724-752-3029 or razkoz@yahoo.comApril 22, 10 A.M.: Mount. Summit Challenge, Hopwood. Run 3Z\x miles point-to-point, post-race pizza party. 724-438-0628 or www.fayettestriders.org

<B>Shamrock Half Marathon, March 17:</B> Jacki Yingling, 1:59:16; Eric Rogers, 2:05:08Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp16@connecttime.net