Cross Country Community Puts Best Foot Forward to Aid Joplin

On May 22, Joplin, Mo. was hit by a devastating tornado that killed 154 people.

About 30 percent of the town of 50,000 was destroyed or severely damaged, along with a hospital, many local business and six schools.

Eric Simon, ’s girls cross country coach, wanted to lend a helping hand. Or, foot, really.  

“It all started with my sister,” he said, explaining that his sister, Nancy, lived in Joplin and the tornado missed her house by just two blocks. Since he was a child, Simon has visited family in Joplin.

Simon -- along with Daniel Whipple, Oswego’s boys cross country coach, and the Oswego Cheetahs running camp for grades second through fifth -- decided to host a run-a-thon.

About 200 people showed up at the Oswego High School track on the evening of July 14, many wearing running shoes and shorts. This group, mostly consisting of the Oswego cross country teams and the Cheetahs, were preparing to participate in a run-a-thon for an hour to raise money for the Joplin cross country team.

Students and community members alike ran around the OHS track for an hour to raise money for the Joplin High School to purchase cross country uniforms and warm-ups. Simon estimated that there were about 40 boys and girls on the Joplin cross country team and uniforms and warm-ups would run around $100 a person.

Alyson Simon, the coach's daughter, said she had been running since she was 8.

“I’m excited,” said the incoming freshman. “It’s such a good cause.”

She said she planned on raising around $200 for the estimated 20 laps (5 miles) she would do around the track.

The outdoor track at Ken Pickerill Stadium is a quarter-mile lap around. Before the runners gathered at the start line, Simon reminded them to keep count.

“Even you little ones,” he said. “Count on your fingers … and maybe you can even start counting on your toes!”

Third-grader Sarah Pankow had big expectations for herself.

“I want to run at least 10,” she said. “I want to help out the others [in Joplin.]”

Junior cross country runner Christian Bartel said he’d only been running with the team for a year, but was hoping to do around four or five miles that night.

"I’m excited to be able to help out such a good cause like this. I hope we can raise enough money for them," he said.

For an hour everyone ran or walked on the track, stopping to get drinks of Gatorade and water from the coolers in the end zones. Everyone participated – from a group of cross country team members who ran in stride together, to a mom pushing her baby around the track in a stroller.

And after a single hour of running, the Oswego cross country community raised $3,400, all proceeds going straight to the purchase of uniforms and warm-ups for the Joplin cross country team.

“Everyone should take great pride in supporting this effort to help the teams at Joplin High School,” Simon said.