Spooky Duke participants parade in costumes ranging from Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach, to Olaf from Disney's Frozen and a classic creature of the night — a bloodthirsty vampire. Photo submitted
BOONE, N.C. — The Health Foundation Inc. has provided matching funds for the eighth annual Spooky Duke Race and Costume Contest to take place in fall 2018.
Kaaren Hayes, director and outreach coordinator for Appalachian State University’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country (FSN-HC), is the recipient of the $10,000 grant.
The Halloween-themed fundraising and awareness raising event is a USA Track & Field (USATF)-certified 5K and 10K race with a free costume march and contest where children, adults and pets can all show off their unique costumes and share in the fun. The race is named in honor of Dr. Charles R. Duke, event sponsor and former dean of the university’s Reich College of Education.
Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country, housed in Appalachian’s Reich College of Education, provides free support and information to families who have a premature baby; a child with a disability, an emotional or behavioral challenge, a mental illness or a chronic health condition; or to families who are grieving the death of a child. The program serves Alleghany, Ashe, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties.
All proceeds from this race enable Parent to Parent FSN-HC to continue to support local families who have children with special needs.
Several Appalachian students will help organize the event this fall.
Appalachian's Yosef poses with a young contestant dressed as Marvel character Wolverine at the 2017 Spooky Duke Race and Costume Contest. Photo submitted
Several Appalachian Community members participate in the 2017 Spooky Race to raise both funds and awareness for Appalachian's Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country and its work to support local families who have children with special needs. Photo submitted
About Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country
Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country (FSN-HC) provides free support, caring connections, information and hope to families who have a premature baby, a child with a disability, an emotional or behavioral challenge, a mental illness or a chronic health condition, and to families who are grieving the death of a child. The program serves seven counties in Western North Carolina: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey. Parent to Parent FSN-HC provides information and tools to help families see the possibilities for their children and turn that potential into reality. Learn more at https://parent2parent.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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