Two dedicated high school runners from Weddington High, east of Charlotte, Matthew Balaban and Pablo Bermudez, founded Stride Forward Foundation, a non-profit that aims to help students in Asheville who are still struggling after the storm.
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On Aug. 30, students executed the Carolina Comeback 5K to benefit the Buncombe County Schools Foundation.
“We had vendors, over 25 volunteers, and about 100 spectators come out, so it felt like a great charity race,” Balaban said. “You could tell there was really excited about moving Buncombe County schools towards recovery.”
During Friday night’s football game, a $6,500 check was presented to the Buncombe County Schools Foundation just before kickoff.
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“I have seen the best of humanity on display, and these students certainly are part of the best of humanity,” said Christy Cheek, the Executive Director for the Buncombe County Schools Foundation. “The needs right now definitely are to help seniors with graduation materials and then to also help with field trips. Some students, if they don’t have the money to go on field trips, we really help them supplement so that they can go on field trips.”