Millersville, Pa. – Although it did a lot of running during the fall season, that isn't all the women's cross country team did. The Marauders raised $215 for the Joplin Tornado Relief Initiative during the season.
 
The town of Joplin, MO was ravaged by an EF-5 tornado in May 2011. The tornado caused so much damage that over 8,000 schools, homes and businesses were leveled, and 160 lives were also claimed. To raise the money, the team held collections and sold t-shirts at both home and away meets during the season. Missouri Southern University, located in Joplin, is assigned to host the NCAA Cross Country Championships this fall.
 
Division II cross country teams across the nation have been raising funds for this initiative. The hope is that the Division II and cross country communities can collectively raise $150,000 to be divided between the Joplin School District Fund and the Missouri Southern Tornado Relief Fund. The goal is to have every cross country sponsoring school across the country participate, regardless of qualification for the NCAA Championships this fall. The overall check will be presented at the championship race.
 
For more information about the Joplin Tornado Relief Initiative, visit the Facebook page right here. To donate funds to Millersville's women's cross country team, contact head coach Andy Young at (717) 871-5560 or by e-mail at ayoung@millersville.edu. The Marauders next run is in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regionals on Nov. 3 at Lock Haven. That race begins at 11 a.m.