Troy Halloween walk to help kids run

The next opportunity the Troy Track Committee has to raise money is a 5k walk taking place at the Troy Airport walking path on Oct. 29.

Different local businesses or community members have the opportunity to design Halloween themed booths that will entertain participants while raising awareness and money for the project.

A new track for Troy schools has been on the school district’s list of things to accomplish for several years, but it’s an expensive project, said Dr. Jacob Francom, superintendent of Troy public schools, in a recent interview.

Recently, the school system has been busy dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and though fundraising for a new track was ongoing, it was not easy, Francom said.

The school district has been fundraising over the last few years, and has currently raised between $120,000 and $130,000. The cost of a modern track can be $400,000 to $600,000, Francom said.

Troy’s track and field team has nearly 30 participants in junior high, but there are fewer students who participate in high school competitions. At one point the school had a cross country team that was discontinued due to lack of interest, but the school district will look for opportunities to start the program again in the future.

“The hard part is the funding,” Francom said of building a new track. “It could be next year, or it could be three or four more years. The Troy community has been great about rallying around and supporting this project.”

Francom explained that a local woman, Shana Bernall, was instrumental in beginning the project. Bernall graduated from Troy High School, and had participated in track during her time there.

“Running became a part of my life,” Bernall said.

Bernall’s daughter is currently on the track team in Troy. Luckily the junior high was able to hold a meet last year, but usually they are unable to host meets due to the track’s condition, Bernall said.

Bernall noted that a lot of schools are building rubberized tracks, and she was glad that the Troy School Board has voted to do the same.

A new track isn’t just about having a track team or hosting meets, Bernall said. For instance, there is a “mile club” in Troy, where students are incentivized to run around the track during recess, or sometimes teachers just have kids run so that they are more active, Bernall said.

Bernall said that COVID-19 limited options for fundraising, and many organizations that may have funded the project were relocating their funding during the pandemic.

Still that hasn’t stopped Troy, as during the last year-and-a-half they have been holding “runathons” and raffles to raise money. Larger grants become available when half of the money needed for the track is raised.

The Halloween walk on Saturday, Oct. 29 will run from 7 p.m to 9 p.m., and cover a distance of 1.8 miles around the Troy Airport.

The pathway that goes around the Troy Airport will have sections that can be decorated by community members, churches or businesses, free of charge. The booths will distribute candy and there will be a designated area intended for kids that are searching for a fright.

For participants there will be an entry fee, $5 for students and $10 for adults, to walk the loop, and there is still time for more decorators to sign up, Bernall said.

Bernall was thankful for the support the project has received so far.

“We have a great community when it comes to getting stuff done,” Bernall said.

The school will be honoring donors by creating a ceremonial plaque with the subcategories 800, 1,600 and 3,200 - a reference to both donation amount and the long distance running events.

If anyone is interested in helping or donating feel free to contact the school at 406-295-4321 or 295-4520.

“It’s just you and your head out there,” Shana said of running. “It’s been a lifelong passion, and I don’t know if I would have started without track.”