When Tamara House yelled “we are” to the crowd of about 200 people before her, they responded without skipping a beat. “Penn State,” the mod shouted back.

That cheer has amped up racers in the Raising the House Annual 5K Race/Walk every year for the past five years, and last weekend was no different.

Saturday marked the nonprofit’s sixth annual race, held in Palmerton Park. Raising the House first coordinated the event a few years ago after the unexpected passing of its namesake: Former Towamensing Elementary Teacher Blaine R. House.

“Anybody who knew Blaine as a teacher knew that he was always there to help his kids,” House, who was married to Blaine, said. “He was always there to bring them up and let them see their good qualities, and some of his students were facing really tough lives at home.”   

Raising the House’s mission is to support families in the district. Sometimes that looks like buying them a gas card, paying their utility bill or picking up their grocery tab. Other times, it’s sponsoring community events or offering a $500 scholarship each year to one Palmerton Area High School senior.

“We try to help families that are facing some type of hardship,” House said. “They kind of tell us what they need.”

House said it wasn’t uncommon for Blaine to take note of a student who came into school without gloves, just to come in with a pair for them the next day. When he saw a student didn’t have lunch money, Blaine gave them money from his own pocket.

“That was just what he did,” House remembered.

“He loved being a teacher. He loved Palmerton School District,” she said. “Being able to help the students… that was Blaine’s true essence.”  

Bill Zeky, who has run the race almost every year since its inception, started teaching at Towamensing Elementary in 2013, the same year Blaine died. Zeky said Blaine was “like my mentor.”

“I’m the cross country coach now, so a lot of these are my kids,” Zeky said. “I’ve been trying to win this race for the longest time like in his honor, but I just can’t do it. I keep getting third of second.”

“I want to keep his memory going,” Zeky, of Palmerton, said.

And while Zeky placed third on Saturday, he came out on top in the ‘Get Your ’Stache On” competition, a tradition Zeky came up in honor of Blaine’s iconic mustache.

The race started promptly at 10 a.m., following a pre-race warm up. Billy Drake sung the national anthem, and Mitchell Hourt said the prayer.

The top female and male racers, Lisa Lower and Kirt Joseph, respectively, were awarded medals. Medals were also given to the top three male and female runners in eight age groups: 12 and under, 13-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and up.

Over the years, House said, Raising the House has raised approximately $60,000 for local families.

“All of the money that we raise, 100 percent of it stays right here in the town of Palmerton to help the kids and their families,” House said.  

Caption:

Towamensing Teacher Bill Zeky came placed third in Raising the House’s Sixth Annual 5K Race/Walk Saturday. Proceeds from the race go to supporting students and families in the Palmerton Area School District. DANIELLE DERRICKSON/TIMES NEWS