On Sunday, December 8th, members of the Benet community participated in a 5K around Benet’s campus and St. Scholastica to raise money for the 2024 Christmas Drive. Students, faculty members, and alumni of all ages participated in the event. Mass with Fr. Ivan and Deacon Christopher served as the unofficial start of the event, bringing together runners and volunteers in worship. Benet students ensured that the mass ran smoothly, helping with the music, readings, and the distribution of the Eucharist. 

The race began following the mass. Volunteers and Student Government Representatives set up the course, directed the roughly forty runners, and ensured everything went smoothly. The race took about forty minutes. Many enjoyed a leisurely walk or jog on a relatively warm winter day, but many competitive Benet students put full effort into the race. Senior Jeffrey Lange, who is also a state-level runner, ran the race dressed as Santa Claus and still managed to easily claim first place. 

After completing the 5K at Benet Academy, everyone gathered in the lunchroom for Breakfast with Santa, where platters of delicious breakfast food were set on tables. An SG representative said, “The 5K was a fun family experience that brought the spirit of Christmas Drive alive.” The run served as a fantastic event for another wonderful, fruitful Christmas Drive, and an improvement from the first Christmas Drive 5K, which was held last year.