North High holding race to help those in need

If you’re fond of raising money for a good cause, or want to show your pride in your community, or even if you just bought a new headband you’d like to try out, the Valley Stream North High School community would like you to gather your friends and family and run, or walk, in the third annual Spartan 5K Run/Walk on March 17.

The event, which starts at North’s track and winds through local streets, raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Last year, the event raised $2,700 for the charity, according to Ann Schroeder, a North science teacher who plays a major role in organizing the event each year.

Schroeder, along with fellow North science teacher Mike Frazer, started the event in 2010. Frazer has also been North’s track coach for 10 years. Schroeder said that she handles all of the paperwork involved with organizing the race, while Frazer handles the technical aspects, including mapping out the route and setting up water stations.

“This was something that was a small, little idea in the back of my mind and to see it come together the day of the race is overwhelming, it truly is,” Schroeder said. “Everybody has such a good time at the event, so it’s nice to see that all come together knowing that Mike and I run around like crazy prior to the event trying to get everything organized.”

Schroeder said she often ran 5K races outside of North and was also the grade advisor for the class of 2011, which helped lead to the idea. She is currently the grade advisor for the class of 2014.

North Principal Cliff Odell will be running in the 5K for the first time this year, although he has been a supporter of the race from the start. “To be able to attend an event like this that brings together the community, promotes wellness, is raising money for a very worthwhile cause, brings absolute pride,” Odell said. “You see the school and community pride really shining through on a day like that.”

Odell said one of the focuses at North, for all councils, grades and activities, is if there is any fundraising done, there must be a charitable component to it. When Schroeder and Frazer asked him if they could raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and also promote wellness, Odell didn’t hesitate to say “yes.”

Since its inception, the Spartan 5K has been nothing short of a success, according to Frazer and Schroeder. “The plan was to keep a portion of the proceeds to help the track team and the class of 2014,” Frazer said, “but what’s amazing is that the past couple years is the captains of the track team and the school president said, ‘We don’t need this’ and they wound up donating that money too. It’s nice for the kids to show some of their leadership qualities.”

Schroeder said that the students at North have been really involved with the planning and execution of the 5K and enjoy helping others who are in need.

“We did this as a way to continue funding charitable organizations that really need the help and also to take some of the burden off of the immediate families in the school community and reach out further than the four walls of North High School,” Schroeder said. “It also lets the community know that the kids here are awesome, they really work hard and really do a great job and are so motivated.

Frazer said that students and faculty members for other schools in Valley Stream have also registered for the event. He and the rest of the North community are hoping that the Spartan 5K will continue grow in the years to come.

“For everyone to come together to pull off an event like this makes it worthwhile,” Frazer said. “It’s catching on and it seems like everyone really wants to be a part of it.”

ABOUT THE RACE

Valley Stream North High School will host its third annual Spartan 5K Run/Walk in an effort to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

When: Saturday, March 17

Race time: Fun Run (one lap) 8:30 a.m.; 5K Walk/Run 9 a.m.

Where: Starting on the track of Valley Stream North High School, 750 Herman Ave. Franklin Square

Registration or donation: www.VSCHSD.org, click on North High School link or email frazerm@vschsd.org

Entry fee: Through March 16 — $20; Day of race — $25; North students — $15

Awards: Top three male and top three female overall finishers.
Medals also awarded to the top three males and the top three females in designated age categories.

All Fun Run participants receive a certificate.