Spooky Duke 2020: Thank You, Participants and Sponsors

The 10th annual Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest was held virtually this year. Between October 19 and October 31, participants walked, ran, rode, rowed, hopscotched and monster-mashed their way through either a distance of 1K, 5K, or 10K.

The Halloween-themed fundraising and awareness-raising event is a race with a free costume march and contest where children, adults, and pets can all show off their unique costumes and share in the fun. Spooky Duke is named in honor of Dr. Charles R. Duke, event sponsor and former dean of Appalachian’s Reich College of Education (RCOE).

This year, 178 participants from North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, New Hampshire, and New Mexico helped make the event successful. With sponsorships, donations, silent auction and participation fees, the event raised over $8,000. Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Health Foundation, Inc. the total raised is over $13,000.

Spooky Duke Participant - Kaaren Hayes Parent to Parent Director, Kaaren Hayes, and a "buzzy" friend say thank you to all the participants and sponsors who helped make this year's race a success! Photo submitted.

In addition to the race, senior elementary education major, Morgan Plumley of Union Mills, North Carolina, provided children’s activities via YouTube videos:

All proceeds benefit Appalachian State University’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country (FSN-HC), housed in the RCOE. Parent to Parent FSN-HC provides free support and information to families who have a premature baby; a child with a disability, an emotional or behavioral challenge, a mental illness or a chronic health condition; or to families who are grieving the death of a child. The program serves Alleghany, Ashe, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties.

Spooky Duke Participants - Superhero family A family of superheroes participates in the Spooky Duke race and costume contest. Photo submitted.