Heroes on the Run

Catoctin High School’s Inaugural Community 5K Raises $5,000 for Special Olympics

Alisha Yocum

It was a great turnout for Catoctin High School’s (CHS) first Catoctin Community 5K and Fun Run on June 1. The school’s Student Government Association and Unified Generation Club joined forces to plan the event, which benefited the Special Olympics of Maryland.

The day started with a fun run, which was a 1-mile walk/run around the track, followed by the 5K, which took advantage of CHS’s scenic campus, offering spectacular mountain views for the runners on the early summer morning. Many participants embraced the “Heroes on the Run” theme, dressing in capes.

Katherine Engelstatter, media specialist, and Charmane Nesbitt, instructional assistant for the Career Technology Education Department at CHS, organized the event. The two work closely together and often brainstorm about how they can generate support for their school and community.

Nesbitt is also the co-advisor of the Unified Generation Club that welcomes all students to experience club meetings with the inference of forming friendships and developing leadership skills through opportunities to share in school and community events. When the two came up with the idea of a run, they knew the Catoctin community would show their support.

“As a Unified Sports coach, I have been exposed to the great needs of the Special Olympics of Maryland. It is a nonprofit organization that provides inclusive sports to build physical, social, and leadership skills for individuals having disabilities. There is no cost for high school students (students having disabilities along with students not having disabilities) to participate in the interscholastic varsity sports: Unified Tennis in the fall, Unified Bocce in the winter, and Unified Track and Field in the spring. Special Olympics supports local programs in a variety of ways with sustainability as the goal,” said Nesbitt.

Eighty-six runners showed up for the inaugural event, which raised over $5,000 for the Special Olympics of Maryland. Monies were raised through registration fees and donations collected by students. With this being the first year, there were no awards given for the fastest times, but it was clear that the runners were not there for the awards—they were there to show their support for the Special Olympics.

Participants were also treated to delicious pancakes, served by Thurmont Kountry Kitchen, after they completed the race.

“The local police, town, ambulance company, and Special Olympics chapter all provided their support. Many of the CHS staff members donated items or time. Our Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Conservation Clubs ran the water stations for us. I love when an event brings everyone in the community together!” said Engelstatter.

The organizers wanted to thank the many local business that supported the event: Anytime Fitness, Bollinger’s Restaurant, Bollinger’s Construction, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve, Cousins Ace Hardware, C.R. Perella & Sons, Food Lion, Gateway 8 Theatre, Holtzople, Insurance Brokers of Maryland, J&B Real Estate: Cindy Grimes, Jubilee Foods, Kelco Plumbing, Mir Neurology of Hagerstown, PJ Roofing, TGIF Gettysburg, Thurmont Kountry Kitchen, Tuscany’s Pizzeria, Weis, and Wivell Homes.

The top four youth finishers in the 5K (from left): Jack Wivell, John Clements, Evan Laird, and James Clements.

Over 86 runners participated in the Fun Run and 5K to benefit the Special Olympics.