Story, Photos & Video by Don Backman
The prey dodged with a squeal. The zombie timed its lunge carefully and caught the prey. Another squeal. The zombie moved in… The prey, a Tillamook Junior High School student participating in the 9th annual Zombie Run fundraiser, laughed as she handed over a playing card, one of the “lives” each student had. She had squealed when she had been tagged by her principal. The two spoke and both laughed.
“Go to the nurse,” she was advised. “You can get a new card.” Around them there were kids laughing and having fun as they tried to dodge a motley looking collection of zombies – school staff — trying to tag them in the zombie pit. It was an example of kids getting a chance to be kids and building a positive connection with school staff.
The 9th annual TJHS zombie run is a fun Halloween activity for the students at Tillamook Junior High that doubles as a fundraiser for the Fitness Trail Project. Organizer Jamie Dixson, Dean of Students and Athletic Director, explained that “We raised $10,240 this year. All of the money raised will go to another school to help pay for a fitness trail there.” The plan is to develop a trail at South Prairie School.
Bud’s Community Fitness Trail and Bohannon Disc Golf Course has expanded beyond the activities field at Tillamook Junior High. Trails have been developed at East school, which costs approximately $24,000, and Liberty school which costs approximately $17,000. The original one at TJHS cost $33,000. “Prices have increased considerably since then,” Dixson commented, referring to the original trail. “The plan is to complete a trail at South Prairie, and it would be great to do one at the high school.”
“None of the money used for these trails came from the district,” Dixson added. “It was all raised by the students, the community, and through grants.” The original fitness trail is the largest. “Bud Gienger told me that he would match the funds we raised,” Dixson went on. Reesers donated $16,000 and Bud matched it.” The outdoor basketball court was built with donated funds from the fitness trail project.
The Zombie Run started 9 years ago. “It was just something I wanted to do,” Dixson explained. The students who want to participate engage in fundraising activities and from that they earn playing cards. The students run a course around the school and along part of the Bud’s Fitness Trail. Two Zombie Pits await, where staff members, dressed up as zombies, try to touch (tag) them as they cross through.
Screams, shouts, and laughter sound as the kids try to elude the staff members, some who work together to herd them close enough to be touched. Once touched, the students surrender a card. Then they can go along the course and see the nurses — staff members dressed up in everything from a doctor’s outfit to an angel — where they are “healed” and get a new card.
“It’s a great activity to do on Halloween,” Dixson said. “The kids like to get outside.” He chuckled, “Some of the staff walked like zombies the next day.”
Another group of students walked the outer half of the fitness trail where a giant white rabbit, a dinosaur, and various scary characters enjoyed the weather and some exercise. There was something fun for everybody.
The reason for the fitness trails is to give students and the public a place to run or walk without having to be in the wet grass. “I went to school here,” Dixson said. “I remember getting my feet wet trying to run in the grass. As a teacher I saw that, too.”
“If anyone would like to donate to the Fitness Trails fund, we’ll gladly accept donations,” Dixson added. “They can call me at the school (TJHS) or look on the Bud’s Community Fitness Trail and Bohannon Disc Golf Course page on Facebook.
