By Jayson Henderson
Picture Credit: Tiger Speech and Drama’s FB Page
Clay Center’s first-ever Halloween Zombie Run, held last weekend, brought thrills, chills, and community support to raise funds for the Tiger Debate and Forensics teams. The event, which took place downtown and began at Central Fitness, featured two different runs: a fun, family-friendly run with “friendly” zombies and a thrilling “horror” run that had participants navigating through jumps and scares from costumed actors. Organized by the debate and forensics program, the run was designed to bring the community together while supporting a good cause.
Megan Blackburn, the debate coach and event organizer, shared her enthusiasm for the event, noting that the concept was the brainchild of assistant coach Katie Carrier.
“Katie came up with the idea, and we just ran with it,” Blackburn said.
“She handled the logistics, while I coordinated the actors and zombies to make it safe but thrilling for everyone involved.”
Alongside Blackburn, student Sophia Carrier, who helped coordinate the event, expressed her excitement about the unique opportunity.
“I’m excited to potentially start a new tradition that’s fun, positive, and beneficial for the community,” she said.
“Plus, it’s a lot of fun to dress up as a zombie and practice Halloween looks!”
The Halloween Zombie Run raised funds through entry fees, with $10 for early registration and $15 for day-of sign-ups. Proceeds will help cover competition costs for the debate and forensics team, which aims to attend nationals for an eighth consecutive year. Blackburn explained the importance of the funds, noting,
“Nationals are a great opportunity for our students, but the trips come with significant expenses. This year’s event helps support our travel and entry fees, especially as we’ll now need to cover these costs independently.”
With a strong turnout and positive community response, organizers hope the Zombie Run will become a beloved tradition in Clay Center’s Halloween festivities. Blackburn encouraged the community to keep an eye out for future events and thanked everyone involved, adding,
“It’s rewarding to see our students and community come together in such a fun way. We look forward to making this a yearly event.”
