The tenth annual Emporia Middle School Walkathon managed to surpass $25,000 in fundraising for the second consecutive year.
To be exact, the walkathon raised $25,075 in donations benefiting five local organizations that will also take part in the 2023 Match Day next month — Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow, Camp Alexander, Food For Students, Flint Hills Animal Advocates and the C4 Food Pantry. Organizer Madison Dragonas tells KVOE News the key to success hinged a lot on the passion and hard work of their students.
In addition to the above-mentioned organizations, two EMS community members also benefited from the funds raised with $5,000 each given to the family of EMS student Reagan Hermann and EMS faculty member Vanessa Hinds. Dragonas says both donations come as the Hermann and Hinds families have been battling significant health issues.
In addition to soliciting donations, the walkathon also featured a silent auction that brought in nearly $4,000 alone. Dragonas says that was all made possible by the generosity of local businesses who “went above and beyond” in providing items for the auction.
This year’s total was just below the 2022 record high of more than $25,300. In total, the EMS walkathon has raised more than $120,000 in its ten-year history.
