Money raised for school
By Lara Hendrickson
Staff Reporter

Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs Don Mills says he has one goal when he participates in Rise and Run.

“I hope I don’t die,” Mills said.

More than 60 students will be running non-stop from TCU to Houston beginning 6 a.m. Thursday to raise awareness and money for children with disabilities, said Ryan Foley, president of the Rise and Run event. The relay will be started by several honorary runners, including Mills, Super Frog and men’s basketball coach Neil Dougherty, who will each run one-tenth of a mile.

The money raised from the run will be given to the TCU Rise School and Houston Rise School, said Foley, a sophomore management major.

Foley said vans will either follow the runners or be stationed at certain points as participants run for 30-minute stretches.

Foley said the last runners in the event will stay at Texas A&M overnight. He said when it is time for the runners to run their stretch of the relay, they will drive to their designated points. Participants will eventually end up in Houston, he said.

When the Rise and Run runners arrive in Houston Saturday, they will present the Houston Rise School with a $1,000 check at the TCU vs. University of Houston men’s basketball game, Foley said.

Rise and Run adviser Kathleen Cooter said the money will let families with extraordinary medical expenses send their children to the Rise School through added scholarships.

Junior accounting major Chris Oldham, who is a participant on the board of directors, said they have already raised more than $15,000.

Foley said the program, which began looking for funding in November, is expected to grow in the years to come.

“Eventually, we hope to be able to construct buildings,” Foley said. “We can do amazing things. The support we have already gotten affirms that vision.”

Cole Bryan, a sophomore political science major, said he is looking forward to the run because of his prior volunteering experience with the Rise School.

“The Rise School has been such an important part of my life,” Bryan said. “Because of the kids there, I have a new found appreciation for so many things. They make me see life in a whole new way.”

Foley said one of the biggest goals of Rise and Run is not only to raise awareness through media attention and word of mouth, but also to bring the TCU community together. He said the student body has already impacted the program.

“This is all possible through the resources of the university and the talents of students,” he said. “It is a testament to their capabilities.”

Kay Higgins, director of Special Programs, said she jumped at the chance to take part in Rise and Run.

“I’m excited,” Higgins said. “It’s a wonderful cause."

l.c.hendrickson@tcu.edu