On Sunday, April 19, CCHS held Kathy’s Legacy’s first 5,000 meter run. Not only was the run and fundraiser successful, but the turn-out exceeded expectations as well. The run, in memory of Kathy Scharbarth, took place on the Cathedral campus at 10:00 A.M. and the event featured music, free tacos and Kona Ice, and prize giveaways for anyone who participated or volunteered. According to Ginny Scharbarth, grandmother of junior Madison Scharbarth, over 170 people took part in the event which was double the amount of people who were expected to participate.

Volunteers welcomed runners to a hip-hop warm-up prior to the start of the race and shirts with a picture of Kathy Scharbarth were given out to the runners during this time. Ginny Scharbarth described her emotions during the beginning of the event. “As the national anthem was sung I watched the crowd, captured the moment, and felt Kathy’s presence there,” said Ginny. “My favorite part of the 5k was the great support that Kathy’s Legacy received from the community”.

The Kathy’s Legacy Foundation held the event to raise funds for Rady Children’s Hospital’s Chadwick Center. The center offers extracurricular activities to children who have been affected by domestic violence.

At the start-line, runners were greeted by the sound of a horn cueing the start of the race. The race course began at the USDHS Library and wrapped around De Sales Hall. After winding towards the soccer field, the course circled back past the library and towards the parking lot before ending back at the library again. Along the way, several volunteers encouraged runners to move faster by showing them the way to the finish line. Water bottles and Rockstar energy drinks were also offered to runners on the race course.

Participants had the option of either running or walking the course. The first runner finished the race in less than twenty minutes, and those who chose to walk the course received a free ticket for shaved ice. There was a large number of mothers who pushed strollers over the course. This was no small feat as a section of the course stretched over gravel and rocks and another section also slanted downhill at one point.

After the race, free tacos were given out around twenty minutes after the last person crossed the finish-line, and the prize giveaways began. The prizes included gift cards to Rubios and the Pancake House amongst others with about twenty prizes given out in total. Ginny Scharbarth told of how runners liked the race. “I heard from several people how much they enjoyed walking and running on the beautiful campus of CCHS,” said Ginny. “The music, tacos, shaved ice, and free drawings also added to the event!”

Overall, the 5k was “huge success” as described by junior Madison Scharbarth, daughter of Kathy. “I thought the event was amazing! The food was great and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. This was one huge step for the foundation and hopefully it’s just the beginning.”