Contact: Bethany Shipp

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Individuals of all ages are invited to “Trick or Trot” during the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability’s 11th annual fun run on Oct. 21 at Mississippi State University.

The center’s largest annual fundraiser kicks off at 9:15 a.m. with on-site registration, games and activities, with the fun run at 10 a.m. Participants are encouraged to wear child-friendly costumes as they run, walk or stroll the one-mile loop through campus beginning at the center. Cheer stations will be set up along the way to cheer on participants and hand out candy and other goodies.  

Registration for the fun run and cheer stations is available at https://www.ecommerce.msstate.edu/tkmartin/funrun/. Fun run entry fees are $15 for individuals and $30 for families, which includes registration for up to five immediate family members. Participants also may register at the event at 9:15 a.m.

Groups such as churches, local clubs, sports teams or businesses may organize a cheer station with a minimum of five members and are expected to bring candy, bubbles or other small items to hand out as they cheer on the children. Music and encouraging signs are permitted. While cheer station registration is free, donations are encouraged.

Sponsorship packages for businesses and individuals are available from $100 to $5,000. For more information about becoming a sponsor, contact the center at 662-325-1028.

“We’re immensely grateful to our maroon level sponsors, Taylor Foundation, The Rowdy Foundation, and Steel Dynamics,” said Kasee K. Stratton-Gadke, executive director of the Mississippi Institute on Disabilities, which houses the T.K. Martin Center. “Their generosity empowers our mission to support children with special needs and their families. We hope everyone can join us for this fun, family-friendly event.”

Proceeds from the fun run benefit the T.K. Martin Center’s Project IMPACT, a special education preschool program. Since 2000, the program has offered a continuum of early intervention services to enrich the lives of young children with various special needs along with their families. Services include three to four classrooms led by early childhood special education teachers and therapists who embed each student’s individual educational goals into daily, developmentally appropriate instructional activities. Speech, occupational and physical therapy also are provided to those who are eligible for such services.

“The T.K. Martin’s ‘Trick or Trot’ fun run highlights our dedication to special needs education. I am so excited to see the benefits these funds will bring to our Project IMPACT program, which provides a brighter educational future for all young learners,” said Teresa Jayroe, dean of the College of Education.

Learn more about the T.K. Martin Center, housed in MSU’s College of Education, at www.tkmartin.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.