Runners wear underwear on the outside at Grand Rapids 5K run

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 9 (UPI) -- About 300 runners wearing their underwear on the outside conducted a five-kilometer (3.1 mile) run to benefit cancer patients in Grand Rapids, Mich., Sunday.

The "FUNderwear Run" was part of the city's "LaughFest" comedy festival, which will included performances by Lily Tomlin and Jay Leno.

The run, which began at Grand Rapids Community College in temperatures in the low 20s, encourages runners to wear underwear outside their clothes, and is "aimed at bringing laughter and awareness of emotional health to the streets of Grand Rapids," the event's website said.

Donations received by the run will go to Gilda's Club Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Press reported.