BOONE, N.C. — Runners and walkers costumed as ghouls, superheroes, cartoon characters and more gathered on the Boone campus of Appalachian State University — and virtually — for the 13th annual Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. With more than $30,000 raised, the event set a new fundraising record.

This year, 363 walkers and runners participated in person and virtually, and 60 volunteers helped make the event a success. With sponsorships, donations and participation fees, the event raised over $21,600 in proceeds to benefit the work of App State’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country (FSN-HC), which assists regional families who have children with special needs. A $10,000 matching grant from Health Foundation Inc. raised the total to $31,600 — the most since the annual race began in 2011.

The Halloween-themed fundraising and awareness-raising event, held Nov. 11, is a USA Track & Field (USATF)-certified 5K and 10K race with a free costume march and contest in which children, adults and pets can all show off their costumes and share in the fun. Spooky Duke is named in honor of Dr. Charles R. Duke, event sponsor and former dean of App State’s Reich College of Education.

App State’s Parent to Parent (FSN-HC), housed in Reich College, provides free support, information and caring connections to families who have children with diverse physical, emotional, intellectual or health conditions; have a child born prematurely; or are grieving the death of a child. The program serves Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties.

For race results and sponsor and partner information, visit the Reich College of Education website.

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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 the Reich College of Education

Appalachian State University offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls more than 2,000 students in its bachelor's, master's, education specialist and doctoral degree programs. With so many teacher education graduates working in the state, there is at least one RCOE graduate teaching in every county in North Carolina. Learn more at https://rcoe.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.