On Oct. 23 at 2 p.m., the Barefoot Benefit will be holding its second annual run at Lambert Acres Golf Club in Maryville, Tenn.

“As far as we can tell through our research, this is the first barefoot race on grass in the country,” Jordan Smallwood, junior in finance and this year’s event’s chief executive officer, said. “It’s a new era, a new idea.”

Started last year by Dr. Ernest Cadotte and six other UT students as part of a new marketing class, the organization quickly garnered the attention of hundreds.

“Last year we raised over $4,000 and had about 140 runners,” Smallwood said. “It’s a different opportunity for students to learn to promote social responsibility and community involvement.”

Because the race is also part of a business course, each year, the benefit will be organized and run by a new group of UT students and will continue to educate those students in marketing, logistics and communication. A new group of students organizes the event each year, which allows the Barefoot Benefit to improve and to be uniquely different each year. This year, the six students involved have worked hard to create an event that will garner even more support for their cause.

Participants of the race can either run a 5K or a 1-mile race with all proceeds going to Samaritan Place, an assisted living center in Knoxville that serves the elderly men and women of the community.

“Samaritan Place is a great organization, and it is really important that we are able to help them through this event,” said Jessica Henderson, senior in journalism and electronic media and the benefit’s communications officer for this year.

Everyone is encouraged to run their respective races barefoot to support the cause, but the option to wear shoes still remains.

This year, one hour before the race, there will also be a clinic, led by Mick Larabee, which will teach participants the benefits of barefoot running.

“It goes back to that idea of the natural state of running,” Smallwood said, “and there are some real health benefits.”

As well as holding a clinic for the runners, this year, the benefit will also have many different vendors and music artists at the event site. Vendors and sponsors this year will include Pilot, Health Source, Runner’s Market, Rita’s, Crossfit Ktown and many others. Also, three music artists — The Sweetest Sleep, Sam Flanagan and Ben Bales — will also perform.

“People should come out because it’s a great cause and a great community event, but also because it is fun!” Henderson