28-04-2025
Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run returns for 16th year
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — The 2025 Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run returned for its 16th year on Sunday. More than 3,000 runners and walkers participated in the 5K run or the 2-mile family fun walk.
Registration started at 7:30 a.m., the run started at 11 a.m., and the fun walk started at 11:10 a.m.
Last year's Beaver Stadium Run was the most successful one ever, raising more than $497,00 for Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes.
'I think it's a great organization. They do great things for the community, so I'm glad that they are getting the funds,' Joe Mazzarella, one of the runners, said.
The race started near the Bryce Jordan Center on Curtin Road and participants followed a scenic route through campus. To end the race, runners went through the Beaver Stadium Tunnel, onto the field and finished at the 50-yard line.
Erika Vandyke also participated in the Family Fun Run with her daughter Rylee. She said, 'Being you know, physically active and moving is really important for us and our family. A wonderful thing about this race is that all the money does get to go there. I spent a lot of time when I was growing up volunteering with the Special Olympics. It's something that's important to us and hopefully that she'll enjoy doing as she gets older too.'
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Proceeds from the Run benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania and continue to support over 13,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
'It feels it's really heartwarming for all of us. That's why we do it. You think you're going to come and help people, but you're here maybe a week, with them, and you're hooked for life. Which I've been hooked since the mid-80s. They won my heart, and they have been a big part of my heart,' Sue Paterno, a Board Member of Special Olympics PA said.
This year's run raised approximately $530,000. However, participants can continue to raise money for the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games in June.
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