AUSTIN – Governor Rick Perry is planning to participate in the 2nd Annual Credit Union Texas Twister 10K Run/Walk, Kids K and Team Challenge on October 30, 2005. In 2004, Texas credit unions established the Credit Union Texas Twister to benefit Children's Miracle Network and local children's hospitals. The inaugural run raised $50,000 for CMN. This year, a portion of the donations will benefit the hurricane relief efforts. Credit union officials plan to organize additional runs across the country to benefit CMN in the future. New this year is a sister run organized by the Army's Task Force Eagle in Bagram, Afghanistan. Tim Villasana, with the National Guard's 111th Area Support Group from Austin and Task Force Eagle, is helping arrange the Afghanistan run. "This gives us something to get our minds off of what is going on over there," he said. Credit unions entered the racing business in 2002, when they became the title sponsor of Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run. At that time, the sponsoring credit unions decided the run would benefit CMN. The 2005 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run raised $325,000. Visit www.cutxtwister.org for more information on the CU Texas Twister.