RocketsRunForKids raising funds
Teachers and staff members of Rockwood Area School District are participating for the fourth time this fall to support local students in need. Oct. 14 and 15 they will be running a 150-mile relay race on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail to raise funds for "Kids Come First" and "The Rocket Fuel Backpack Program."Eight members of the staff will each run about 20 miles, day and night, rain or shine. The team name is RocketsRunForKids. The team consists of Ben Baker, Mark Bower, Carter Bower, Aj Sembower, Nate Formica, Megan Hetrick, Jenna Tressler and Misty Demchak. Each team member will run three times over about 24 hours, up to 25 miles.
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In 2021 the team finished the race in 24 hours and raised more than $12,000 for the children in need.The race is an opportunity to demonstrate the commitment to two programs that help the children: "Kids Come First" and the "Rockwood Rocket Fuel Backpack Program." The programs are solely funded by donations and grants, serve to provide the children in need with everything from winter coats to fuel oil to shoes to nutrition food.
Each year they have found there is an increased need for these programs in the school population. During the past school year, they spent nearly $12,000 on food for the backpack program and close to $4,000 supporting children and families in need through "Kids Come First."
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The team needs sponsors. The 2022 goal is to raise $10,000. The school board donated funds to cover the entire race registration fee. Students also donate what they can. Donations will be handled by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. This is a tax deductible donation. Follow this link to https://cfalleghenies.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1724.
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This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Rockwood educators raise funds for children in need
