WATERFORD — The 14th Waterford Fall Foliage 5K Road Race, 5K Fitness Walk and 1-mile Fun Run are set for Sunday, Oct. 13, to honor the memory of longtime local educator Tony Waldeier.

So far, the event has raised more than $35,000 for the Tony Waldeier Scholarship Fund. As much as $1,000 this year is awarded each spring to an Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School senior from Waterford to pursue his or her education.

Waldeier was a passionate teacher, his wife, Carol, said Monday.

“He fell in love in Maine and he loved teaching fifth grade. Even though he’d be in his early 70s, he’d still be teaching. He loved it,” Waldeier said.

The couple, who came from Boston and New York, moved to Waterford in 1973. Although Tony began his career in economics and continued to teach economics at the University of Maine campus in Lewiston at night, he taught fifth grade at the Waterford Elementary School for 35 years. He eventually became the school’s teaching principal.

The annual event brings hundreds of runners of all ages to the village of Waterford each fall to run or walk a challenging “out and back” course along the shores of Keoka Lake to South Waterford and the Sweden Road.

A 1-mile Fun Run is also on the schedule. It will begin at 11:30 a.m. The 5K run starts at noon.

An award ceremony immediately follows the race. Winners receive medals and maple syrup from Dottie Bell’s Thunder Hill Farm in South Waterford.

“The race has grown every year. It’s a big community event now,” Waldeier said. People have been coming from “all over,” Waldeier said.

The Waterford/Harrison PTO also will hold a chili cook-off, with free chili samples for all 5K racers. Hot dogs and baked goods are sold for lunch as their fundraiser. Anyone interested in making a pot of chili to enter is welcome and should contact the Waterford/Harrison PTO, Waldeier said.

This year, the event will be held at a slightly later date, which means the race won’t be competing with the Fryeburg Fair.

Registration for the 1-mile fun run is $5, and for the 5K it is $15 preregistration and $20 on race day. The first 100 5K preregistrants will receive a long sleeve T-shirt with the race logo.

The event is held rain or shine, but organizers have usually got good weather for the race. “We’ve had such luck with good weather. Someone is watching over us,” Waldeier said.

Online registration is at www.active.com, with paper registration forms available as well. The event website is www.waterfordfall5k.com, and event email is fallrunner@waterfordfall5k.com. For more information on the race or registration, call 583-2603; 583-4611 or 583-4405.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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