By Taylor J. Hale
Reporter

STEVENS POINT — One student’s drive to help the community has seemingly turned into a new yearly tradition in the city. The second Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) Run for Life: Color Run drew over 300 participants and raised more than $4,000 in funds for the Marshfield Clinic Stevens Point Center to aid in cancer treatment.

“Many were participating for, or in memory of a loved one who is fighting the disease,” explained Jared Kort, the SPASH senior who spearheaded the event.

Kort received much-appreciated help from P.J. Jacobs Junior High School Counselor Kelsey Haelfrisch on the Color Run project. The two sought out a way to help the community and were stunned with the overwhelmingly positive response shown by students and locals.

(Taylor Hale Photo)

“We are so proud to be apart of a district and community that takes such pride and pleasure in giving back to others,” Kort said.

Kort and Haelfrisch worked with Marshfield Clinic Representative MaryBeth Knoeck to learn more about how the clinic would utilize the donated funds. The experience struck a chord in the young student.

“One line that really struck the crowd in her closing speech was, ‘every step you take today is one that you are taking for someone else,'” Kort explained. “It truly means a lot that so many individuals in our community are willing to support each other for one common cause.”

While Kort may be graduating soon, the Color Run will live on in the school district. The student-run Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) group will be taking the lead on the 2020 run.

“The overflowing joy and enthusiasm of the volunteer student leaders at SPASH and P.J. Jacobs Junior High was a true testament of compassionate and caring young leaders in our community,” Kort said.

Contact Taylor J. Hale at [email protected] with Portage County news and information.