They came together through a common bond to raise funds for a father, husband, and mentor.

A solid crowd participated in the eighth annual Raising the House 5K Run and Walk held earlier this month in Palmerton.

The annual race is hosted each spring and dedicated to the memory of Blaine House, a Towamensing teacher who died in 2013.

This year marked the first time the event was held both in-person, as well as virtually, according to board member Tamara House.

“We were really pleased with how everything went; we were really pleased with the attendance,” House said.

House noted that due to COVID-19, last year they were only able to do a virtual race, which she said worked out very well.

“This is our largest fundraiser of the year; it’s a really important event for us,” she said. “It also is a way to remember Blaine; I always say in my comments every year that as a family, we are really lucky to have race day, because it is one day when we are lucky enough to have hundreds of people gather and remember Blaine, and for everything he did for the kids.”

House said that despite COVID-19, they were able to start a new program in the high school to help with food scarcity known as the Blaine House Backpack Program.

“We provided every other week, but enough food to last (for a week) to carry kids through the weekend when they’re not in school and not getting breakfast and lunches,” she said. “It went really well this year, and we’re looking forward to expand on it next year.”

House specifically praised high school guidance counselor Vicki McHugh for her role in the endeavor.

“We were literally delivering food to the school, and Mrs. McHugh was making sure the food got to the kids,” she said.

“It was very successful, and I’m really proud of that because we know that food scarcity is a concern in the Palmerton Area School District.”

House said the funds for the 5K Run and Walk support the mission of the Raising the House organization, which is to provide financial assistance to students and families within the district, while honoring the memory of Blaine.

“The race is very important to us; it’s a way for us as family and friends to come together and remember Blaine, and to continue with our mission to help students and families in the school district,” she said.

“My goal is to make sure that everybody knows who were are and what our mission is.”

For more information, visit them on Facebook at raisingthehouse.org.