Nearly 350 race in Fools Run
Proceeds fund scholarships for local students to attend Kutztown University
The Kutztown Optimist Club welcomed nearly 350 runners to its annual Kutztown Fools Run, featuring scenic courses through countryside of Northern Berks, on April 6. Proceeds fund scholarships for local students to attend Kutztown University.
“Despite less than pleasant weather, our participants and volunteers always seem to be smiling,” Dan Schlegel of Optimist Club of Kutztown said in a statement. “The chance to reconnect with other runners definitely brings a sense of community with the participants. For our many volunteers, there is strong a sense of purpose on race day, a sense that we’re contributing to a great cause.”
The Fools Run is held each spring to raise money towards scholarships for students committed to attending Kutztown University that are from the Kutztown, Brandywine Heights, Fleetwood, and Hamburg area school districts. These scholarships are provided through the Donald Peters Memorial Fund which is administered by the Optimist Club of Kutztown Foundation. Two students from each school will be chosen by the schools to receive the scholarship.
Additionally, the Fools Run Committee offers local school districts the opportunity to enter teams of staff runners to compete for scholarship money to be given to a student from the winning school. This year, Fleetwood School District took home the trophy.
“The Fools Run offers three different routes for participants to challenge themselves, or for them to simply enjoy time outdoors contributing to a great cause,” said Schlegel. “Our 10mile course transverses some of the most scenic landscapes in Berks County and offers runners some challenging hills, and our 5K- and 2-mile courses stay closer to town and offers participants the chance to see part of the Kutztown University North Campus.”
The Bob Focht Memorial 10 mile course is a scenic out and back road loop with time splits at the 5 mile mark. The course has varied elevations with uphill climbs at 1, 2, 8 and 9 miles and downhill at 3.3 miles.
The Sally Miksiewicz 5K course is a mostly flat out and back course with an uphill climb at the beginning of the run heading toward the KU campus.