Volunteers for App State’s 13th annual Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest carry the event banner, leading participants to the race start line. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Rich Lang and his daughter, Erin Lang, of Boone, take part in App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. The Langs are one of the many High Country families served by the university’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
This 2023 Spooky Duke participant is dressed as App State mascot Yosef and carries a flag bearing the university’s signature block A logo. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Runners and walkers in App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest were all smiles. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
A family costumed as characters from the cartoon “Scooby-Doo” crosses the finish line of App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Nick Shrager and his mom, Sue Shrager, were among 363 runners and walkers who took part in App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. The Shragers are among the High Country families served by App State’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
These two 2023 Spooky Duke participants flew through the race dressed as fighter pilots from the movie “Top Gun.” Photo by Kyla Willoughby
This group of 2023 Spooky Duke participants appeared in coordinated costumes — dressed as Santa, elves and even a gift. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
This unlikely pair — an angel and a demon — pause to show off their smiles during App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Local family Erin and Candace Lang, and their daughter, Erin Lang, pause for a quick photo at App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. The Langs are among numerous High Country families served by the university’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
A 2023 Spooky Duke participant, clad in App State black and gold from nearly head to toe, gives a cheer mid-run along King Street in downtown Boone. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Runners and walkers in App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest make their way down King Street in downtown Boone. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
2023 Spooky Duke participants Nick Shrager and his mom, Sue Shrager, dressed up as Potato Head characters. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
A Mountaineer canine, dressed as capped crusader Batman, and his owner, costumed as Batman’s trusty sidekick, Robin, prepare to take part in App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
A young runner’s heels leave the ground as he jets across the finish line in App State’s 2023 Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
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.
This year, 363 walkers and runners and 60 volunteers helped make App State’s Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest a success. The event raised $31,600 — the most since the annual race began in 2011 — to support regional families who have children with special needs. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
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 offerings that span multiple fields — from teacher preparation, counseling, and therapy, to higher education, school and student affairs administration, library science, educational leadership and more. With over 10,000 alumni employed in North Carolina public schools, there is at least one Reich College graduate in every county in the state. 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.
