Over 100 students at Aurora’s Regis Jesuit High School gathered Friday for a 5K run, raising over $20,000 for students in developing countries impacted by COVID-19.

The students joined fundraisers all over the world, running to raise money to provide 465 International Samaritan’s scholarship students with access to necessary technology so they can attend virtual school.

There are 53 teams and 488 runners from 26 states and seven countries signed up for the IntSam Global 5K, with runs being held beginning Thursday and concluding on Nov. 1.

Around 129 students in 12 teams from Denver, Parker, Aurora, Castle Rock and Centennial competed Friday.

Each team had a goal to raise $1,500 to purchase tablets for the students. International Samaritan currently supports 856 students with school scholarships and has been providing food for their families since the pandemic began.

In countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Ethiopia, Nicaragua and Jamaica, families often only have one electronic device to work with for the entire family, usually older with limited memory.

“The pandemic has shut down the informal economy around the dumpsites where the families of our scholarship students earn their living, and then schools were forced to remain virtual through the fall too,” said Mike Tenbusch, president of International Samaritan.

“The results would have been devastating for our scholars if they did not get access to technology.”

The races began at 9 a.m. and were staggered throughout the morning to allow for social distancing.

During Friday’s race, the runners held a moment of silence in honor of cross country coach Ben Brownlee who died from a fall while hiking on Oct. 7.