Shepard teacher raises $3K for scholarship fund Running 48 miles

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Family, friends, and former students donated more than $3,000 to a scholarship fund to support Shepard High School physical education teacher Tina Holba as she ran 48 miles last weekend.

Holba completed the 4x4x48 Challenge, a grueling test of mental and physical will created by former U.S. Navy SEAL David Goggins, to raise money for a scholarship for a Shepard student who will study PE in college.

The donations far exceeded her aspirations.

“I was hoping for $250. I can’t believe so many people have such big hearts. It means the world to me and a very lucky student,” she said.

Holba ran four miles every four hours starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, March 5. At one point in a Facebook video post she confessed to feeling mentally drained.

“There was only one point where I felt really down (6 a.m. on Sunday.) I had just fallen asleep and gotten into a deep REM sleep and my alarm woke me. I did not want to wake up,” she said.

Tired with her feet blistered, Holba found her edge again after a video chat with Major (ret.) Dan Johnson, one of the U.S. Air Force JROTC instructors at Shepard.

“He was at his gym running. So we ran together and talked and it was the best thing for me mentally. Although I could have gotten through that round on my own, he made it 100 times easier. Without him, I might have been crying at the end,” Holba said.

Friends and family buoyed her throughout the punishing test.

“Having friends come over and support me was super nice. All the phone calls, Facetimes, texts, messages, comments was so sweet to read. It really helped motivate me from round to round knowing that people were actually following me and cheering me on from afar,” she said.

When moved by emotion, people often flock to someone who chooses to give generously. This was Holba’s experience.

“Even my former college (gymnastics) coach who coaches for University of Arizona now knew about it and was cheering me on. I really loved hearing people say that I inspired or motivated them to exercise or workout. I think hearing or seeing that really helped me realize that of my reasons for doing this challenge is working,” Holba said.

Mostly through social media, but sometimes in person, people seemed to arrive at just the right time throughout her ordeal.

“I realized that every time I needed something, within a little bit it would happen. For example, the Facetime from Major at a time I was desperate for encouragement. Having blisters but NONE of them opening up and bleeding, which is crazy for runners,” she said.

“Friends, my brother and sister- in- law coming over and surprising me when I thought I was going to be running my last round alone. I one hundred percent know that my parents were there making that happen. I don’t necessarily believe in coincidences and especially not that many, all centered around an event I was thinking about them a lot. It was crazy!” she said.

You can still donate to Holba's cause at ABS Holba PE Scholarship Fund. All donations are tax-deductible.