Band director hits the road for students

Handley High School Band Director Matthew Goodman passed through Selma Monday as part of his trek from Roanoke, Alabama to New Orleans by foot.

Goodman is raising funds to take his students to the Sugar Bowl Dec. 29 and has every step of his trip mapped out.

Roanoke is 415 miles from New Orleans. According to Goodman’s calculations, it takes him approximately 1,760 steps to cover a mile. At that rate, he will take 730,400 steps to traverse the entirety of the trip.

Goodman noted that if he could raise even a quarter per step, he would have enough to take all of his students to the Sugar Bowl, purchase new instruments for his band and repair older instruments.

“I want the band to function without parents having to break the bank,” Goodman said. “I just want to breathe life into the band.”

Goodman got the idea for his #Miles4Music campaign after watching “Forrest Gump.” With the idea in his head, he posted a Facebook video and vowed that if it received 100 likes, he’d run the whole 415 miles.

It did, quickly.

Arriving in Selma, Goodman had already covered 154 miles of his trip and raised a little over $1,600.

“Every cent matters,” Goodman said. “I’m just trying to get every kid there.”

He started on his voyage last Monday. After a brief stop on Friday to be with the band for a couple of performances, Goodman got back on the road Sunday.

“It’s bigger than the trip,” Goodman said of getting his students to the Sugar Bowl. “When the kids have something to look forward to, they participate. Being in a rural town, there’s not a lot to look forward to.”

Originally a baritone player, Goodman is taking steps – over 730,000 to be precise – to bring new opportunities to his students.

“Music saves lives,” Goodman said. “My principal said, ‘If we don’t go the extra mile for our students, who will?’ I’m just taking that literally and putting my foot to the pavement to be a game changer for these kids.”

To make a donation to Goodman’s effort, visit the band’s GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/handley-high-school-band-sugar-bowl or call the school at 334-539-5266.

SportsPlus

Features

Mother-daughter recover after homes hit by 2023 tornado

Features

Remembering, Rebuilding, Surviving: A look at two years of recovery from the Jan. 12, 2023 tornado

Features

Selma 60 | Mass Meeting set for next week

Education

Five finalists named for SCS Superintendent

Features

Selma Links Chapter hosts 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast

Features

NYT author highlights first Lunch at Library of 2025

News

Ivey declares days of mourning two college graduates killed in New Orleans attack 

Arrests

Arrest Reports for Jan. 8

Breaking News

Selma City Schools to close Friday, Dallas County on remote learning

News

Man charged in first homicide of year

Business

Black Belt Community Foundation 2025 arts and community grants cycle kicks off

News

Icing possible on Friday morning

Business

Remembering Charles Victor Pollack Sr.: a Selma resident who showed diligent efforts of service to the Selma community and beyond

Health

Area dealing with deep freeze this week

News

Man dies at hospital from gunshot wound

News

Emancipation Proclamation Observance Ceremony held Wednesday

News

Monthly weather siren testing set for Tuesday

Education

CHOOSE Act Applications Open for Families in Alabama

Arrests

Arrest Reports for Jan. 4

Business

Longtime Selma physician passes away just before New Year

News

Winn-Dixie will soon transform into Aldi 

News

Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation hosts 9th Annual Clothing Drive

Business

Catfish Conference to be held in Marion Junction next week

News

Selma woman dies in Bibb County crash