The second annual ‘Haunted Hike’ 5k benefit, hosted by Ottawa University’s DECA student organization, made a few changes this year.
Chapter President Michael Matos said the group decided to change the benefit because of a weight room accident that left junior Matt Bollig paralyzed over the summer.
He said the goal was to help raise money for Bollig and his family, and whatever medical needs he may have.
“We usually do it for muscular dystrophy, but because of the accident that happened, we needed to help out a fellow student,” Matos said. “So we switched it up right there … and we ran with it.”
Matos said the event participation was down from last year. He attributed the decline to competing 5ks in the area and the cold weather.
However, the lack of runners in the race did not affect the event’s fund raising, although official numbers have not been released.
“We got a lot more money via sponsors,” he said. “We had 12 sponsors total, and they ranged from Chanute to here in Ottawa.”
Matos said the benefit raised more than $1,000, doubling what the event made last year.
Bollig’s mother, Valerie Bollig said she felt the event was a great help to the family.
“I’ve been in touch with Michael since day one, and it’s just amazing what the community has done and what the college has done for Matt, for our family,” she said. “It’s really special.”
Valerie Bollig said the amount of financial and spiritual support Matt Bollig has received is good, even though a majority of support is coming from people the family may not know.
“It’s not so much the people you know that help you, it’s the people you don’t know that reach out at you and lend a helping hand, whether it’s volunteering here, or coming to the (football) games, buying shirts or whatever,” she said.
Dana DeVader, a volunteer helping advertise a nutritional milkshake company at the event, said the Haunted Hike was something beneficial to everyone involved.
“It promotes awareness of being healthy and awareness for helping a worthy cause,” said DeVader, who is also Matt Bollig’s aunt. “I think it brings the community together.”
Changing the benefit this year gave Matos the idea of altering the cause every year.
“When you have a cause, people are most likely to go to it,” he said.
Matos also said support from OU’s softball, men’s and women’s basketball teams and football team captains made a positive impact on the event.
“This is the type of event that we hope brings a community together,” he said.