Looking for a way to raise money for a new track at Brandywine High School, Al Price came up with the idea of holding a 5K run.

Now, 10 years later, the Cat Tracks 5K has not only helped the Bobcats run on a new track and a new press box, but it has funded other opportunities through the Brandywine Foundation.

When the Niles-Buchanan YMCA came on board several years ago, part of the money raised now helps to fund the Summer My Way program, which is open to children in second through fifth grades.

Each year the 5K run has grown in both numbers and the money it has raised.

Brandywine Superintendent John Jarpe, who will be retiring at the end of the 2016-17 school year, had just been hired to the position. He remembers the run’s humble beginnings.

“I had just heard about it that summer,” Jarpe recalled. “I met Al Price and he was gung ho about it. He told me about getting it started. Then every year since then it has kind of grown. I am really pleased that it has become kind of a tradition.”

Jarpe said that Price made some changes to the course over the years, but the race itself would not have been possible without the help of the Low family, whose property borders Brandywine High School.

“The two groups that we partner with and rely on are the Low family next door and now the YMCA,” he said. “It is really unique running around the corn field and through their woods and over the creek. The YMCA coming along and partnering with us the past few years has been really helpful.”

Jarpe could not recall any early glitches to putting on the event, but did note that the weather has played a key role in a few races.

“There were a couple of years we had a real heavy rain before the event and even during the event,” he said. “People lost their shoes in the swamp and came out pretty muddy, but I think that is part of the character of the course.”

Jarpe admitted that Saturday’s race with be the first of many emotional moments as he wraps up his tenure at Brandywine.

“It will be the last one where I am the superintendent,” he said. “There are going to be a lot of moments like that throughout the year. This is probably going to be the first one. A few weeks from now it is going to be the last opening day speech. The last of this and the last of that. There are a lot of little milestones along the way that I am going to think about a lot.”

The Cat Tracks 5K run and walk is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Brandywine High School.

There is still time to register, both online and the day of the race. To register online go to runsignup.com/Race/MI/Niles/CatTracks5k. Packet pick-up for those who have already registered is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Brandywine High School.

For more information about registering, call Jill Haboush of the YMCA at (269) 683-1552.