As the fall sports season comes to a close, North’s Boosters Club has begun promotion and preparation for its second annual Tiger 5k. At Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 26th, the newly established tradition will attempt to raise money for North’s athletic department.
Junior Ryan Costello, a member of boys’ cross country, said, “The Tiger 5k will be a great opportunity to connect with the community, especially with most other sports teams at our school participating.” Senior Nina Bakal, a captain of girls’ basketball, added that the four teams with the greatest turnout at the event will receive money from the Boosters Club.
After the Fun Run for children aged 10 and under, starting at 9:30 a.m., there will be a costume contest for the 5k runners at 9:50 a.m. The official race will then kick off at 10 a.m., when participants will run, jog, or walk out through the Dickinson gates at North.
According to Rebecca Schmidt, co-president of the Boosters Club, the organization hopes to expand upon last year’s participation and fundraising. With 300 runners and approximately 100 student-volunteers, Schmidt says she is confident that the organization can surpass last year’s funds, which grossed almost $50,000.
Adults’ ticket pricing is $35.00 and the cost for students is $15.00. Walk-ins, according to Schmidt, cost an extra $5.00, which will likely factor into the Booster Club’s fundraising success.
The event will also feature a live music performance, face painting, an art show, and merchandise for sale. This year, there will be concession stands and bathrooms on the turf, new additions from the previous Tiger 5k.
“We wanted this year’s event to be more than just running,” said Cara Salmon, a parent volunteer. The Boosters Club prioritized including more activities to incentivize more participation, according to Salmon.
In preparation for the upcoming race, the Boosters Club ran food drives and gained sponsorships from Comcast and the Boston Showcase Company. According to Schmidt, the Tiger 5k will be among the biggest events in the Boosters Club’s history.
Junior Morgan Klaehn Haight said, “I’ve never run a 5k before, but I’ll do it to push myself to try new things.”
