19th Herbie’s Home ‘Town Loop’ race to raise money for 2 Bellefonte teens

Herbie’s Home “Town Loop” will return this weekend for the 19th year, benefiting two Bellefonte teens each facing their own health challenge. The race is named after Jeremy Herbstritt, a 1998 Bellefonte Area High School graduate who died in the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting.

The race was started that same year by the Herbstritt family, who not only wanted to honor his memory, but also raise money to build a track at BAHS. In 2019, the track was completed and dedicated to Herbstritt, allowing the high school to start hosting track meets and providing a space for the community to exercise. Since then, the race has raised money to help individuals and families in the community.

“The first one was really a collaboration between the family and his friends,” said Kim Gasper, a teacher at BAHS and a family friend of the Herbstritts. “Sitting around during that time period and trying to think of a way that we could honor him and that we could maybe start putting the grief to some good use.”

Gasper got to know Jeremy and his sister, Jen, as their middle school cross country coach and would later train for marathons with them. She has been the race director since the event began, working closely with the family and the race’s yearly beneficiaries. As of Tuesday, this year’s beneficiaries have received $930 in donations. She hopes to give back to the community the same way that Jeremy did.

“[Jeremy] was always known as someone that would help someone out in need, like if he’d see somebody he would stop,” Gasper said. “He wasn’t the kind of person that would just walk on by.”

This year’s first beneficiary is Rees Stewart and his family. Stewart was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2024 and missed almost all of his freshman year at BAHS to receive treatment. In April, he entered remission and was able to return to school for a few days each week. A GoFundMe organized on behalf of the family has raised over $10,000.

“He spent the entire school year in Danville, pretty much fighting cancer, going through chemo treatments that were really rough,” Gasper said. “We just want to make sure that he has a really good start to this school year.”

The second beneficiary is Zane Hummel and his family. Hummel is a 2025 BAHS graduate who was injured in a motorcycle crash about a month ago and had a below-the-knee amputation. He was a state medalist for Bellefonte’s track and field team and will enroll at Penn State next fall. A barbecue fundraiser is planned for September, with proceeds going toward Hummel’s medical expenses and prosthetic.

“We’re trying to help them out as well, and we’re trying to rally track and field teams in our area that competed with and against him, just kind of come together as a track and field family and support him,” Gasper said.

The four-mile race begins at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to end at 10:30 a.m. The start and finish line is on the track at Rogers Stadium. The route will include crossing at main roads like Bishop Street, High Street, Curtain Street and Spring Street. It’s an open course, but those driving can expect some traffic delays as runners cross.

Jeremy and Jen Herbstritt used to run this route together, which they called the Town Loop. Those interested in taking on the Town Loop can sign up on the fundraiser’s website, or donate here. There is a registration fee of $30 until Wednesday and it will increase to $35 until race day. Registration and bib pickup will begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday.

Sam Woloson

Centre Daily Times

Sam Woloson is a news intern for the Centre Daily Times. He graduated from Penn State in May 2025, where he spent time as a football reporter and the managing editor of The Daily Collegian.