800 PARTICIPATE WITH A PURPOSE

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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On a day when students in most schools were waiting for the bell to ring and for spring break to start, children at Lewis Elementary School were excited about being at school.
They stayed to take part in the school’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the Walk-A-Thon.
According to event chairwoman and PTA board member Sherrie Glow, the Walk-A-Thon is the best event of the school year.
“We designate if for something we need and then whatever money we raise goes to that something 100 percent,” Glow said. “I think the reason it is so successful is because all the money raised goes to that purpose only.”
Each pupil was asked to solicit pledges. Their sponsors could pledge to donate money per lap or pledge a one-time contribution. Students walked in laps around the school and were marked off by a teacher or volunteer.
“The students collect the promises,” Glow said. “Everybody in the school walks. So that means we have about 800 students walking and to have that many students participating is awesome.”
Glow said the goal this year was to collect $20,000 in pledges in order to replace the cafeteria’s stage, risers, backdrop, stage lighting and sound system.
In addition, the students were trying to raise enough money to provide electricity to the school’s covered pavilion in hopes that some of the new equipment could also be used there.
“Last year we exceeded our goal and raised $23,000 with only half of the school’s population turning in money,” Glow said. “It is the best day to be at the school. The students truly believe the harder they walk, the more we will reach our goals.”
Each student had about a two-hour window to try to walk as many laps as possible. Drew Ehrhard, a second-grader in Marilyn Hoenge’s class, said his goal was to walk 50 laps.
“It is really fun and healthy,” Ehrhard said. “I am not worried. We will raise the money for the new stuff.”
Shannon Ehrhard, Drew’s mother, pledged to donate $1 per each lap her son walked.
“He is motivated to get that money,” Shannon Ehrhard said. “It is a lot of fun for the kids. They really look forward to it. They have so much energy to burn.”
Lewis art teacher Joy Dudney also loves the Walk-A-Thon.
“It is the best fundraiser we do all year,” Dudney said. “The kids have the most fun and it is something we can pull off rain or shine.”
Principal Loretta Campo noted that the school has been doing the Walk-A-Thon for about 10 years, but this is her first time seeing it. Campo took over as principal in June of last year.
“It brings out the energy in the students,” she said. “I am really looking forward to getting safer and newer staging equipment. We have so many great programs and this new equipment will be a great enhancement.”
For more information, call 987-6947.