LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As Bellarmine University welcomes the 2009 GLVC Cross Country Championships to campus and to Louisville this week, the team is sponsoring a community engagement effort this week for all participating schools to collect and donate clean, gently used running shoes for homeless shelters and/or philanthropic groups to take to developing countries.

Bellarmine Cross Country Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Jim Vargo said, " We believe our student-athletes will embrace this effort to those less fortunate, not to mention a means for them to see their beloved running shoes benefit someone else in need."

The GLVC Cross Country Championships, hosted by Bellarmine University, will be at E.P Tom Sawyer Park on Saturday, Oct. 24 with the starting gun going off at  10 a..m. for the women's race and 10:45 a.m. for the men.