Walk raises $67K for education

Correction
Due to an editing error, the headline for the Oct. 18 article "Walk raises $67K for education," as well as the story itself, state that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation raised about $67,000 total in its race and walk for education. The event actually raised between $90,000 and $98,000.

People from across the state and even the country took part in Saturday's Walk for Education and Race for Education.

More than 3,000 people took part in the annual fund-raiser for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation, including 210 runners who took part in the first-ever 5K Race for Education.

David Huntoon, foundation treasurer, said that as of Sunday evening, the race and walk had raised about $67,000: $23,000 in corporate sponsorships and $3,000 to $4,000 in T-shirt and raffle ticket sales.

The exact amount of money earned was not known and Nancy Zeman, chairwoman of the walk, said they would not have the final numbers until next month.

Zeman said the public school foundation began the 5K this year, hoping to encourage more participation from high-school students.

"We were hoping to get the older kids involved, and we were successful at the middle-school level," she said. "We also know there are a lot of runners in the community."

Zeman said she was thrilled with the turnout for both events but was particularly surprised by the turnout for the Race for Education.

"I would have been happy with 100 people," Zeman said. "I was impressed with the number of people, especially for a first-year event."

Mike Aldrink of Tampa, Fla., finished first in the 5K event. He said he came to Chapel Hill to take part in the event because he is moving to the area and wants to help out local schools as best he can.

"I always like to do anything I can to help," he said. "This money all goes to a good cause."

Aldrink also said that he would like to work in the area and that he is glad to see how much support the community gave to its schools.

"I'm a teacher, and I love seeing people help out like this," Aldrink said. "It builds momentum. We need more stuff like that."

Jewel Marlowe of Goldsboro said that she was also glad to see so many people come out for the race and that she expected the race to get bigger if it's held again next year.

"I think it's for a great cause, and it's nice to see so many people come out for this," she said. "I anticipate even more people coming out next year once the word spreads."

Last year, about 3,000 people took part in the Walk for Education and helped raise more than $97,000 for local school systems. Zeman said the foundation hopes to break the $100,000 mark at next year's event.

"We'll have to see what the thoughts are," she said. "I think this is a great turnout for our first year."

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.