Community college president ran marathons for 53 days straight to raise $150K

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The head of Clackamas Community College has crossed the finish line of a 1,411-mile journey through Oregon to support students.

The journey brought President Tim Cook to each of Oregon’s 17 community colleges. His run kicked off at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. on June 16 and ended in Hood River on Aug. 7 — totaling 53 days.

His route took him from eastern and central Oregon, south to Klamath Falls, up the Willamette Valley, to the coast of Astoria, and through the Portland metro area.

Cook said he decided to take the trek to highlight certain barriers to student success, such as a lack of food, housing, child care, and transportation. In a survey during spring 2024, 38% of students at Clackamas Community College reported food insecurity.

He called his campaign Running for Oregon Community College Students (ROCCS).

“Several years ago, I got really concerned about the number of students at CCC who were living out of their cars. I saw our food pantries get wiped out every week, and I started to really worry about their basic needs,” Cook said. “I wanted to do something like this to hopefully raise attention to the fact that students are struggling.”

During his run, he averaged a marathon a day, climbed 64,183 feet, took nearly four million steps, lost five toenails, wore out six pairs of shoes, and used eight cans of sunscreen. 

He raised over $150,000 that will be shared with participating colleges to help support these needs. Donations will remain open through Aug. 30 on the ROCCS website. 

“To everyone who has aided the ROCCS campaign in any way, whether it was through donations, volunteering or cheerleading from the sidelines, thank you. The level of support and generosity we have experienced along the way gives me hope for our students and their futures,” Cook said.

Clackamas Community College Foundation Executive Director Debra Mason shared the following statement in support of Cook’s campaign:

“The CCC Foundation is incredibly proud of President Cook and his dedication to community college students. Every week, we receive multiple requests for basic need support, and the need is increasing. By the end of July 2025, the foundation had distributed nearly the amount it had distributed in the entire calendar year 2024. Requests for rent and utility bills are the most common, along with medical bills and transportation. When we can support a student’s basic needs, they can stay enrolled and achieve their educational goals instead of worrying about their next meal.