Running into its fifth year, the Fighting Autoimmunity 5K Run is at Andy Brown Park in Coppell this Saturday. It raises awareness and money for autoimmune diseases.

Expecting around 500 runners, the charity run commences at the main entrance of Andy Brown Park East at 8 a.m. and will end around 10 a.m. The run offers options for everyone; besides the main 5K run that stretches around the Andy Brown Park, the event also offers a Fun Run – a short, pleasant 1-mile walk geared toward families with young children, strollers and dogs.

“Our goal is to raise awareness,” said Erika Slater, the charity run’s co-founder. “We just love seeing the community come out and have people, young and old, understand what autoimmune disease is.”

Autoimmune disease is a condition where one’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own body cells, recognizing them as foreign. With about 24 million people suffering from the disease in the United States alone, it comes in a wide range of forms and severity. And though medical treatment can not directly cure autoimmune diseases, it can still lessen their impact and reduce pain.

Anyone can sign up for the Fighting Autoimmunity 5K run on its official siteThe early , with runners ranging from ages 9 to over 70. With the event’s late registration still open deadline ended on Aug 10, but late registration is still open. T participants can register for the full 5K run for $35, while the family fee, including up to four runners, stands at $100. The Fun Run costs $20 per individual.