A habit for fundraising
Sisters Albert Marie Do, left, and Amaya Veritas were among the more than 12,000 runners and walkers who hit the streets of downtown for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s 13th annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk on Saturday.
More than 12,000 runners and walkers came together Saturday morning to raise over $1 million to support Catholic education in the 13th annual Steps for Students 5K held at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Steps for Students benefits the 10 counties in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston by raising awareness of religious education benefits and providing resources for its 59 Catholic schools.
“It is that one day a year you’re a part of something bigger than just your school and community,” race chairwoman Diana Davila Martinez said. “This is the largest school-based 5K run in the country.”
Steps for Students creates friendly competition among Catholic schools across the archdiocese and has become the primary fundraiser of some, according to Martinez. Schools promote the race so people register for their team, then their registration fee goes to their school. They also solicit donations.
In 2017, Our Lady of Guadalupe on Navigation Boulevard raised $47,566 and purchased Chromebooks for the classroom as well as new reading and math textbooks. Christ the Redeemer in Cypress raised $85,325 and purchased a new copy machine, resources for the athletic department and a new English and language arts curriculum.
To promote the event, schools put their creative skills into action. Teams made inspiring videos to draw in members and schools gave students incentives for registering.
“It’s a fun way to get together with everybody,” participant Tawana Fulmer said.
After a sunrise Mass at 6:30 a.m. and a blessing from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the archbishop of the diocese, thousands of runners and walkers set off at 8 a.m. into the streets of downtown.
For the next hour and a half, participants from all walks of life made their way to the finish line. Families wearing matching shirts traveled at a leisurely pace. Some ran with just the company of their headphones. Kids repeated a cycle of sprinting through the course with sudden bursts of energy, then slowing as fatigue set in.
Supporters gathered at the finish line, cheering continuously as their favorite runners or walkers passed. On the unusually warm February morning, many participants either slowed to a walk or continued the one they were already on. Relief rushed over thousands of faces as the 5K experience came to a close.
The top three finishers were 16-year-old Will Botard, 18-yearold Charles McIntyre and 32-yearold Peter Nurre.
A post-race party included games and prizes.
Mia Alvarez, 7, of St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School said her favorite part of Step for Students was seeing graffiti, or “flower faces” as she described them, along the walls of buildings.
“My favorite part was running with my friends,” said 9-year-old Daniel Cervantes, a classmate of Alvarez.
When Steps for Students first was formed in 2006, Diana Martinez said roughly 1,000 people participated, and it has grown since. She said more than 300 volunteers helped on Saturday, starting at 4 a.m.