EASTHAMPTON — When in need, teammates step up and help. That’s why the Easthampton High School track and field team is hosting a 24-hour, overnight fundraiser run to raise money for a teammate who lost his father earlier this month.
All are welcome to join the fundraiser that starts at 3 p.m. Sunday and runs until 3 p.m. Monday at the Mountain View School track. Participants do not have to run to donate, with proceeds going to the family of Caleb Rodriguez, 43, who was allegedly shot and killed in Holyoke on May 6.
Rodriguez was known as a loving husband and father by his wife Severiana Rodriguez. The couple’s four children — Isabella, Brian, Xavier and Alexander “Alex” — all attend Easthampton public schools, with Alex a member of the track team.
“He was an amazing dad,” Severiana Rodriguez said about her husband. “He really just loved spending time with his family, coaching sports, playing video games with his kids after work.”
Severiana Rodriguez said the couple would often take their kids on hikes on Mount Tom or have barbecues or watch them perform in extracurriculars. Caleb Rodriguez’s love for music, the outdoors and sports was passed down to his children, who participate in many school programs, she said.
Severiana said her sons have played and still participate in different sports like baseball, basketball and track, many of which their dad coached them for, while also participating in band and chorus. She said Caleb Rodriguez had a love for skydiving and was planning on taking Xavier with him once he was old enough. Severiana Rodriguez said the couple’s one daughter, 7-year-old Isabella, was Caleb’s “world.”
“All of the Rodriguez kids are absolutely wonderful kids,” said Alexa Abild, the high school track and field coach. “They are so sweet and caring and I think it’s really important to come together as a team of Easthampton to show Alex that we support [all of] them, and to show the people that he runs with that we step up to support our teammates and family members when they are down.”
On top of the track team’s fundraiser, a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Rodriguez family has raised nearly $23,000 as of Thursday.
“Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved Caleb Rodriguez, who was taken from us far too soon while working as an Uber driver to provide for his family,” the page reads. “Caleb was more than a husband and father — he was the kind of person who made people feel seen, valued, and loved.”
The post continues, “Whether it was cheering from the sidelines, making people laugh, or simply being there when someone needed him, Caleb gave his heart fully to the people around him.”
Because her children are deeply integrated into the schools, Severiana Rodriguez said the support the Easthampton and broader community has shown to their family has been incredible. “It’s very appreciated and overwhelming to see the community come together. It’s amazing to see my kids have the support.”
This is the second year of the 24-hour fundraiser, an idea of track and field coach Ryan Hanna, who started it last year to raise money for the team. But after hearing about Caleb’s passing, Hanna wanted to dedicate the run to the Rodriguez family this year, and one of his runners, Alex.
“Alex is just such a great kid, super positive and respectful,” Hanna said. “Beyond the fundraising aspect, it’s more to just show him that we love and care about him and feel for him.”
Hanna plans to run an “ultra” during the 24 hours of the fundraiser, a running challenge of any distance longer than the 26.2-mile marathon length. Many people consider a marathon a long-distance run, but Hanna takes that distance a step further.
“My PR [personal record] is 107 miles in 24 hours. I’m hoping to make 108 miles (this weekend),” Hanna said, adding that he is planning to run throughout the night on Sunday into Monday.
Hanna said he wants to break his personal record to show Alex his support for him and his family. Hanna has always seen the track team as a place for kids to feel a sense of community and a place to spend time with others to get away from everyday stressors.
“We try our best to make an environment where they (students) feel confident,” Hanna said. “Your track performance is so secondary to you as a person. It’s more just about making you better person.”
To donate to the track team’s fundraiser, visit pledgereg.com/easthamptontrack.
