Halloween costume run raises money for local homeless

An over-easy egg, a lady bug, a man with his bare buttocks exposed and a barefoot man with an afro wig ran through IU’s campus Saturday afternoon.

These costumed figures were IU students participating in the Indiana Public Interest Research Group’s “Nightmare on 10th Street” event.

The purpose of the event was to have a fun run around IU’s campus to raise money for Bloomington homeless shelters.

“Fall and winter, especially, are hard times for a lot of people,” junior Kaylin Staley said. “If we have something to give, why not help out those less fortunate?”

Staley, a member of INPIRG and coordinator for the event, said she saw the event as a fun opportunity to capture the Halloween spirit and allow people to show off their Halloween costumes around campus.

Most people simply turned and stared as the costumed Hoosiers raced down 10th Street and through the Arboretum.

Sophomore Joe Balio, the barefoot man, said he found the nearly one-mile path too exhausting to finish.

He was one of the participants who didn’t cross the finish line.

“I didn’t know I was going to be running against a bunch of track stars,” Balio said. “I didn’t think we were training for the Olympics here.”

First place went to senior Dylan Baker.

“I feel honored to take part in such an event,” Baker said. “It wasn’t the hardest race to win, but without the extra time I took to prepare, I probably wouldn’t have been able to win.”

To enter the race, participants had to bring either canned foods or winter clothing to the starting point in the Arboretum.

The goods collected by the group were donated to Middle Way House and New Hope Family Shelter in Bloomington.

“People shouldn’t have to go wanting, especially during the holiday season,” Staley said. “I’m glad we could make a difference.”