Two $1,000 prizes are at stake for the winning public high school and middle school that turn out the most participants to walk, jog or run in this year's Oregon Mid-Valley Road Race, sponsored by the Mid-Valley Lions Club and Albany Area Habitat for Humanity.

Only schools from Corvallis and Albany can compete for the Lions Spirit Award.

The event is on Thankgsiving Day, and day-of-race registration begins at 8 a.m. The race starts at 9 and consists of a 2.5-mile walk, a 3.75-mile jog and a 5.2-mile run called the Scenic Challenge that takes hardy runners up Scenic Drive in North Albany.

Participants in the school challenge contest, which is open to students, parents, family, friends, neighbors and school boosters, must preregister by Nov. 21 at www.omroadrace.org and designate the school they support. All public Albany and Corvallis middle schools and high schools are eligible.

Printed registration forms are available at Five Star Sports and fitness centers in Corvallis and at the Albany Athletic Club. Out-of-town runners who do not have computer access can request a registration form by calling the Mid-Valley Lions at 753-5555.

In addition to the $1,000 awards to the schools with the most participants, the winning schools will receive a traveling plaque honoring Boey Byers, the Corvallis girl whose spirit in the face of cancer inspired an act of Congress to fund research into childhood cancers.