Editor’s note: Toledo Free Press will follow the Blank family of Millbury for the next year as they rebuild their lives after a June 5 tornado destroyed their Main Street home.

The latest effort to raise money for Lake High School will benefit students like sophomore Casey Blank.

The student councils from Perrysburg and Maumee high schools are giving Lake the proceeds from the Rivalry Run: Race for the Bell. Casey lost both his home and his high school June 5.

The 5K run/walk starts at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 on the towpath at Side Cut Metropark (between Jerome Road and Wayne Street) and includes running across the Maumee-Perrysburg Bridge.

Perrysburg student council president Alexis Eckel didn’t know anyone affected by the tornado, but she feels badly for students like Casey.

“I heard about it, but I didn’t realize how bad it was until I saw it,” Eckel said. “This isn’t a little thing that happens.”

The councils decided to earmark the money raised at the Rivalry Run for new technology at Lake’s new school.

“We figured it would mean more if we donated to a certain department in the school,” Eckel said. “Plus, at Perrysburg, we are big into using computers and using online resources in our classes.”

Heather Dansack, adviser for Maumee student council, said the race kicks off spirit week before the Maumee-Perrysburg football rivalry game Oct. 29. Dansack likened the high school rivalry to the Ohio State versus Michigan game. In 2009, Maumee took home the victory bell.

“Last year was our first race and we raised more than $4,000 for Hospice of Northwest Ohio,” Dansack said. “Lake had been part of our NLL family and seeing something like this happen to a school that the students had been to or passed by, they wanted to do something to help.”

Dansack said 100 runners have pre-registered for the race, which is more than last year. The bulk of last year’s participants showed up on the day of the race, which is allowed this year, too, she said.  The participation fee is $20 for students and $25 for adults and includes a T-shirt. Without a T-shirt, the price is $10 for students and $15 for adults.

Eckel said Maumee and Perrysburg are usually only rivals on the night of the game and during the race, but this year, they wanted to come together to help Lake.

Registration information is at www.maumee.k12.oh.us or visit the Maumee High School or Perrysburg High School main offices.

Tags: Blank Family, Storming Back, tornado damage

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 at 11:28 am and is filed under Community, The Blank Family: Storming Back.
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