Our Lady of Mercy School Runs Forth

Blustery winds and snowy conditions couldn’t stop the nearly 380 runners and walkers from supporting Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Regional School’s inaugural 5k event, held on the early morning of March 16.

The 5K, named “Run for Mercy,” took place in and around the grounds of the St. Alphonsus Parish Center, located in Maple Glen. The actual 5k route started from the St. Aphonsus Parish Center and continued along Bell Lane to Temple Drive through the campus of Temple University on Meetinghouse Lane.

While the morning proved to be brisk, patches of green race shirts could be seen through fleeces and jackets. The shirts had the Catholic regional school’s logo on it, complete with an ornate shamrock to mark the St. Patrick’s Day weekend celebration.

After the Our Lady of Mercy School chorus lead the crowd of eager runners and walkers, the school’s vice president, David Hayden, provided opening remarks.

“This is the first run, an we’re off to a great start,” Hayden said to the cheering participants.

Participant admission for the Run for Mercy 5K were $30 for adults, $25 for youth 18 and under and $15 for the 1-mile fun run, which included race registration, t-shirts and refreshments. According to Hayden, proceeds from the event will go back toward the Our Lady of Mercy School’s operational budget, specifically improving its technology infrastructure in light of recent iPad donations.

But for most of the participants, one of the more valuable aspects to this event would be the opportunity for Our Lady of Mercy to show school unity.

“We’re still getting to know each other,” Colleen Arco, Run for Mercy event co-coordinator, said. “I’ve met so many people working at this event.”

According to previous Patch reports, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Regional School Maple Glen location was selected after the merger of St. Anthony-St. Joseph, St. Catherine of Sienna and St. Alphonsus elementary schools. Our Lady of Mercy started its inaugural year during the 2012 – 2013 school year. 

Arco, and Run for Mercy 5k organizers, say that the school community comes closer together with each event.

“I was disappointed our school closed, but we look at the big picture, and we’ll make the best of what’s happened,” Jennifer Sowden, an Our Lady of Mercy parent, St. Anthony’s parishioner and 5k runner, said.

In the last year, Our Lady of Mercy has also participated in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts and other community outreach. The 5k is the first event that the school has organized to support itself and nurture school spirit.

“It was awesome to see them participate and see their smiles across the finish line,” Our Lady of Mercy seventh-and-eighth-grade teacher said of her students. “Especially beucase they were all cheering each other on and that helps bring them together.”

Fifth-graders Audrey Bryce and Kate Galasso couldn’t agree more.

“It’s a nice way of bringing all three schools together and to have some fun,” Audrey said.

“But, we’re not just three schools anymore,” Kate added. “We’re one school united.”