NiskyTREK raising money for food insecurity

NISKAYUNA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Students from multiple school groups took on a 100-mile challenge on Thursday to raise money for a Niskayuna-based community group that helps people facing food insecurity and poverty. The event is called NiskyTREK, or Together Reaching Every Kid.

It is a relay race consistent of swimmers, crew teams, runners, mountain bike teams and more. It began with a 20-mile swim by the Niskayuna High School swim team and ended with Unified Sports Athletes finishing the 100th mile on the high school's track.

NiskyTREK started last year when a local teacher did a hike from Niskayuna to Lake Placid. It inspired his students to join in and make it their own.

"This event definitely helps to bring our school together as well. Different sports teams that usually wouldn't interact are now high-fiving, handing off to each other, which is really awesome," 11th grader Addison Rizzi said. "And also, as somebody who's helped with the planning, it's helped a lot with leadership roles, teamwork. These are probably skills that I'll use for the rest of my life."

There are signs around Niskayuna, which feature information about the challenge and how to donate.