FAYETTEVILLE — St. Joseph's parishioners are wearing out their shoe leather again this fall, raising money for their school while strengthening community ties as they prepare for the Oct. 20 Kansas City Marathon.
The goal, as in past years, is to raise $50,000 for school scholarships through pledges sponsoring the runners. Pastor Father John Antony is one of the hard-core team members planning to do the full 26.2-mile marathon as well as a relay race. It's really one run, but the first six miles of the marathon count toward the relay.
"I learned a long time ago, if you're in it for the hardware (race medals), that's what you do," he said. "I have four medals from two marathons. You get a medal for running the full marathon — you should get canonized," he joked. "You also get another medal for running the relay."
Two years ago, Father Antony led a parish team in the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa. Last year, the runners went to Dallas. Those events raised $107,000 for St. Joseph School, all of which was used for scholarships. This year, at least 45 people are planning to run, including students, parents and faculty. The 18-week training schedule for those running the full marathon can be grueling, especially during hot weather, but many of those who ran last year never quit training so they were in good shape when this year's schedule began, he said. The 26.2 x 3:16 team, as the parish group is called, is named for the 26.2-mile length of the marathon and one of the Bible's best-known verses from the Gospel of St. John ("For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in him should not perish, but might have everlasting life.")
As in past years, Father Antony aimed to raise half the $50,000 goal himself.
"I use every trick in the book — manipulation, guilt, pressure, eternal damnation — whatever it takes," he laughed.
The reach for donations extends beyond the parish.
"I try to ask people that I've gotten to know over the years, friends and family," Father Antony said. "I hate asking for money … but several people have said … 'Thank you for asking.'"
They're supportive, he said, because "they know it's going to a good cause and promoting Catholic education."
It's a good opportunity, he continued, to share good news from the school, which this year has more than 340 students and next year will add eighth grade. And for the first time, the school also has an athletic director, who's putting together a sports program.
But tuition can be expensive for families, and that's why fundraisers like the race are so important to the school.
Principal Marcia Diamond said 10 percent of the student body receives scholarships totaling $106,000 annually. Only Catholic families are eligible for the scholarships and seven students are on full scholarship awards. Marathon participants have raised half the scholarship money for the past two years, Diamond said. The balance comes from other fundraisers plus the school also has an "adopt-a-student" program in which donors pay the full tuition for a child.
Diamond is part of a relay team, Teachers Have Fun, that also includes three teachers — math teacher Christi Welcher, third-grade teacher Sharon Busteed and reading and language arts teacher Michelle Hightower — and Cezanne Garlinghouse, mother of a St. Joseph student.
The Fabulous Five is a team of seventh-grade girls from St. Joseph School: Sarah Welcher, Valeria Morrison, Alysa Busteed, Anna Kock and Hannah Peralo. Another seventh-grader, Jack Rossi, plans to run the half-marathon. Father Antony's team seemed to include at least one celebrity: Justin Bieber. Turns out that's an alias. The runner is really Noah Antony, the pastor's 16-year-old nephew, who's a student at Har-Ber High School in Springdale.
"We give everybody nicknames," Father Antony said, laughing heartily when asked about "Justin."
The fundraising aspect is important, but Father Antony also likes the way training helps build the parish community.
"I've found that's a wonderful way to get to know parishioners and vice versa for parishioners to get to know me — so they know I don't just say Mass. It's a good thing in the parish."
Alas, the 43-year-old priest said he won't be making another 26.2-mile run.
"This is definitely my last one. Marathoning is pretty hard on the body. You don't run 26 miles for your health — you run three to five miles for your health. You only run 26 miles to raise $50,000," he explained. "I need to take it easy on my body."
It won't be the last fundraiser, however.
"He shows such great support for Catholic education," Diamond said about Father Antony.
But she's already told the parish priest he's going to have to find another way to raise $50,000 next year if he's not running again. She doesn't have to worry. He's already thinking about what activity could replace the marathon.
"A priest friend of mine said he used to run marathons, and then he took up boxing," Father Antony said.
It's not a certainty but maybe a possibility, he seemed to suggest.
Donations can be made through the parish's marathon website: www.sjfay.com/support/kansas-city-marathon/.
