Walkathon to support scholarships, aid the poor

MC+students+set+off+for+the+lakefront+at+the+start+of+last+years+Walkathon.

MC students set off for the lakefront at the start of last year’s Walkathon.

The Mount Carmel Walkathon, which was started decades ago by legendary teacher Nick Iosue, is an important fundraiser for the school. This year the event will be held on Friday April 24, with Fight Night following on Saturday evening, April 25.

Students and faculty walk east to the lakefront, and then north to 39th Street, before turning around and heading back to school.  Overall, the route is about 15 kilometers, a distance many students traditionally choose to run.  “Not many schools have the opportunity to be so close to the lake, so that is a nice advantage of this event,” observed senior Dan Hogan.

Each student is asked to bring in $75 in pledges as a way of supporting the scholarships and financial aid that benefit every Mount Carmel student.  If the student body reaches 100% of its goal, everyone will enjoy half day Friday’s in May. In addition, once students bring in their individual quota, they are automatically eligible for warm weather dress code. Students who bring $75 by Tuesday March 31 also are entered into an “early-bird” raffle for cash prizes.

While the principal goal is to raise funds to assist current MC students with scholarships and financial aid, an additional goal this year is to use a portion of the Walkathon proceeds to help the poor.  Accordingly, 10% of all the money raised after the basic quota is met will be donated to Carmelite Fr. Peter Hinde, an MC alum who has spent many years ministering to the poor in Juarez, Mexico.

Hinde, who served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, and personally witnessed the devastating effects of nuclear weapons in a Nagasaki, Japan, went from a military career and an early desire to play professional baseball to becoming a Carmelite priest.  He is one of the founders of CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador), and for many years, has lived and ministered to some of the poorest of the poor in Juarez.

The walkathon has been around for decades, so if you don’t know how you are going to raise pledges to reach your quota, the easiest way is to ask alumni for tips. Ask your dad, cousins, neighbors,  uncles, or friends who attended MC about what worked for them.  The key is to reach out to neighbors and friends who have approached your family to support their fundraisers.

Easter Break also is a great opportunity to catch up with relatives and friends, and to see if they would be willing to help you meet your quota.

However you get it done, Walkathon is a good opportunity for MC students to make a difference, both with reducing their own costs of education and for the poor.