More than 7,700 runners participated in the 10th annual Krispy Kreme Challenge Saturday, raising exactly $200,000 for the N.C. Children’s Hospital and setting a new record for the fundraiser.
The Krispy Kreme Challenge was started by a group of N.C. State Park Scholar students to help fund the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. To date, more than $750,000 have been raised to help the hospital, with more than 25 percent of that sum being raised this year.
Michael Harrison, a junior in industrial engineering, was the main organizer and director of the event.
“Ultimately, it was a fulfilling experience organizing this race,” Harrison said. “We put in a lot of hours. We had a number of challenges such as seeking sponsorship, fundraising and logistics. All of this somewhat difficult to do as a student, but at the end of the day it was a very worthwhile experience.”
Some of the participants dressed in costumes for the costume contest, making the overall race unique. At the conclusion of the race, costume contest winners received $200 gift cards to Raleigh restaurants.
“It was really cold,” said Marina Hoggan, a freshman in biology. “I couldn’t eat nearly as many donuts as I thought I could. My friend actually ate all the 12 donuts. I ate one donut, and, after one, I don’t think I could eat any more.”
Hoggan finished the challenge in less than an hour. However, some students did eat the entire dozen donuts.
“As my first time as a casual runner in the Krispy Kreme Challenge, I felt the sugar rush after eating the 12 donuts, and that gave me the energy to get through the race,” said Patrick Leasure, a senior in paper science engineering.
Overall, some students said they enjoyed the experience despite the challenges.
“It was a long five miles,” Leasure said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be as windy. Being a runner on an everyday basis, it was challenging. This is the number one thing on my bucket list.”
According to Ryan King, a junior in mechanical engineering, and one of the organizers of the event, about 18 percent of the runners this year were N.C. State students.
“In November, I had the opportunity to visit the North Carolina Children’s Hospital and see our money in action,” Harrison said. “Hospital staff showed off Bruce, a high-tech pediatric training manikin paid for by a Promise Grant that our race funded.”
Additionally, some of the money given to the hospital has been used to assist families of sick children and expand the Sexual Abuse Nurse Examiner program.
“The Krispy Kreme Challenge is entirely student-run, so many would consider us to be at a disadvantage,” Harrison said. “However, I found that working with a wide variety of students, the majority of whom are Park Scholars, made organizing the race enriching, fun, and actually quite efficient.”
Rodger Shull finished second in the race and was the only N.C. State student in the top three. However, there were three other N.C. State students who finished in the top 10. After the conclusion of the race at 10:00 am, the streets in Raleigh were then reopened.
“Being able to be a part of this race is one of the most unique and meaningful experiences of my life,” Harrison said.
