The Paterno Family Run brought thousands of runners and walkers onto the field at Beaver Stadium. They raised more than $500,000 to support Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes.
“Nothing could be more perfect, we had great weather, great people, and everybody’s having fun and what more could we ask for and the cause is unbelievably good," said Sue Paterno.
Runners and walkers of all ages made their way to Beaver Stadium on Sunday morning. The event was supposed to start at 10:15 a.m. but was delayed until nearly eleven, due to how many people showed up.
As participants crossed the finish line, they got a high-five from Dana Harris, the wife of the late NFL Hall of Famer and former Nittany Lion Franco Harris, who had attended the event yearly before he passed away in 2022.
“When something is easy to do, you don’t give yourself enough credit for it, give yourself credit, get a pat on the back, know that you’re making a difference in a crazy, crazy world," said Harris. "So we just want to thank you and Franco would talk about this all the way home, and I'm like alright already, we're going to be there next year," she continued.
Penn State Head Football Coach James Franklin also stopped by to encourage the runners.
“To me this is what makes Penn State and Happy Valley so special, is that we come together as a family and as a community to support a great cause," said Franklin. "It seems like the sun always shines on the Special Olympics and if it doesn’t Sue has the ability to will it to happen as we all know," he continued.
Sue Paterno says they wanted to raise $475,000 this year for Special Olympics Pennsylvania. After two donations during the opening ceremony, they hit their goal, and then some.
“15 years ago we raised $35,000 and we felt lucky, and then you think, ‘oh we can do better, we can do better,’ my heart, well, it made me cry," said an emotional Paterno.
Two runners and Penn State students say that it’s motivating to see everyone come together to raise more than half a million dollars for such an amazing cause.
“I’m actually really proud now to just be a little part of that," said James Pifer.
"I feel like everyone here we all have this special connection now that we all ran it together, we all finished, for a great cause and everything so we all feel like this connection this family and I really love that," said Kayleigh Herr.
The Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games will take place on Penn State’s campus from June 6-8.
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