Notre Dame holding 5k, trivia night Saturday

Two Notre Dame Regional High School fundraisers are scheduled for Saturday -- one to raise money for the performing and visual arts at the school and the other to pay for mammograms for women who cannot afford them.

The school's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter will sponsor the sixth Annual Mardi Gras 5k, 10k Run/5k Walk in memory of Jean Hermsdorfer. A 1-mile fun run for children 12 and younger also is planned. Registration is at 8 a.m., and the race starts at 9 a.m., family and consumer-science teacher Tanya Davis said. It starts and ends at the St. Vincent de Paul Center, according to information from the school.

A Notre Dame graduate, Hermsdorfer was the administrative assistant at the campus and the first person to greet visitors when they walked in the door, Davis said.

The 90 students in Davis' FCCLA organization man the course and help in all aspects of the race. They will make up packets with T-shirts and race numbers, as well. Participants also receive beads in honor of Mardi Gras, which typically is in February, although this year it's in March.

The race, which started six years ago, usually attracts about 125 participants, depending on weather.

"Mine's always the first race in February, and people look forward to it," Davis said. " ... Runners, if they can get there, they'll run in anything."

FCCLA member Dalton Welch and presidents Annie Siebert, Karsen Powers and Collin Kramer are four of the students volunteering for the fun run. Siebert, Powers and Kramer will be taking registrations while Welch stands on a corner and directs runners and walkers.

All are glad to be giving of their time for a good cause and in Hermsdorfer's name.

"I didn't know her [Hermsdorfer] personally, but all the teachers and [principal] Brother David [Migliorino] absolutely loved her, so this is the least we can do since she was so respected by all our staff members and teachers," Kramer said.

Hermsdorfer passed away in 2008 after a battle with breast cancer, and Welch noted there is a teacher undergoing chemotherapy, so helping with the race is not a big deal.

"When you look at it in hindsight, it's not that bad at all just having to wake up early one Saturday morning to volunteer for something that is a good cause," Welch said.

Jesse Raines, a Notre Dame junior and member of the cross country team, said he's running the 10k race this year mostly because he has time. He's looking forward to seeing who his fellow runners are.

"It's a good cause that we're all contributing to," Raines said.

The cost is $25 for the run/walk and $10 for the fun run, including a T-shirt. Proceeds go to Saint Francis Dig for Life, known as Athletes for Life at Notre Dame, which helps pay for mammograms for women who can't afford them.

Registration forms may be found at notredamehighschool.org, caperoadrunners.org, or can be picked up at the school.

Trivia night

Later in the day, trivia night, benefiting the school's performing and visual arts department, is set for 6:15 p.m. at Notre Dame with principal Brother David Migliorino as emcee. Devised by the Notre Dame faculty, questions will be loosely based on the theme of the spring musical, "The King and I," dance teacher and organizer Deana Pecord said.

"The King and I" centers on English widow Anna Leonowens, who has been summoned by the King of Siam to tutor his children and wives, according to the Rogers & Hammerstein Organization website.

Migliorino will serve as emcee and read the questions, Pecord said.

A new feature this year is challenges from clubs and teams. For example, the junior varsity girls basketball team is challenging the JV boys, betting they can beat them by 100 points, Pecord said. Raffles also will be held.

Cost for trivia night is $10 a person, and there's a limit of eight people per table, Pecord said. Popcorn and soda are free.

Call Becki Essner at 335-0862 or 335-6772, or email her at beckiessner@notredamecape.org. to make reservations. Pecord said participants may pay when they arrive.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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