High school students organize 5K race to raise money for animal rescues

Clear the Shelters High school students organize 5K race to raise money for animal rescues Two students at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School organized the Paws to the Rescue 5K to raise money for local animal shelters and organizations. By Deanna Durante and David Chang • Published November 11, 2026 • Updated on November 11, 2026 at 1:23 pm Two Montgomery County high school students organized a 5K run and walk to raise money for local animal shelters and organizations. The Paws to the Rescue 5K takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8:30 am. at Victory Fields in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. Stream Philadelphia News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC10. WATCH HERE Plymouth Whitemarsh High School seniors Ethan Gold and Eliza Meersman organized the 5K after forming a consulting business. “We had 180 participants show up last year with over 45 volunteers from our DECA club,” Gold said. Last year’s 5K raised nearly $7,000 which was donated to a local animal rescue. “It was the community that really came together to create that support and allowed us to succeed,” Gold said. For this year’s event, Gold and Meersman have bigger goals. Clear The Shelters Finding forever homes across the country Clear the Shelters Nov 7 Clear the Shelters: Meet Cupcake Clear the Shelters Oct 31 Clear the Shelters: Meet Sneezy “We are looking to raise $10,000 total this year,” Meersman said. The organizations the 5K supports include Hand2Paw, a Philadelphia nonprofit that provides paid internships for young adults from underrepresented communities in which they work with rescue animals. Hand2Paw also offers programs that help to enhance coping skills, emotional regulation and healing using animal-assisted interventions. “They provide paid internships for young adults in Philadelphia who are facing barriers,” Meersman said. “For example, housing insecurity or let’s say foster care, other challenges, they provide internships for those young adults to work with animal rescues.” A virtual 5K will also take place for those who can’t make Saturday's event in person. This article tagged under: Clear the Shelters