Can't stop, won't stop
Cherry Valley kindergartener Dillon Johnson walks hand-in-hand with his dad, Preston at the Walk-A-Thon Friday. Karen Gunderson enjoys the afternoon with her grandaughters, Giani Fyant and Annabelle Gunderson, both in kindergarten.
Cherry Valley kindergartener Gavin Knutson quenches his thirst at a water stop during the Polson Walk-A-Thon Friday afternoon.
Cherry Valley Kindergartner, Traylon Thompson ties his shoes before the start of the 2010 Walk-A-Thon at Linderman Elementary. Friday, the entire student body as well as teachers, parents, and friends circled the Linderman walking path to raise money for the schools. Last year, they raised $12,500, and this yearÕs goal was to beat it. The results are not yet tallied, but if the animated atmosphere was any indication of the eventÕs success, new Smart Boards should be on the way.
Polson's walk-a-thon raises money and awareness
POLSON - One-thousand, eight-hundred eighty-four and one-half miles.
That's how far Linderman and Cherry Valley Elementary students walked last Friday at the annual walk-a-thon fundraiser. The mileage translates into 6,219 laps around the Linderman walking path, a feat accomplished by roughly 700 kids in just an hour and a half.
The entire student body and staff participated in the event to raise money for the schools. Parents and friends were all encouraged to attend, walking with the students, manning snack stations and water stops or helping to count laps on the infield.
While the final fundraising numbers won't be turned in until May 21 when all donations are collected, this year's chairman, Catherine Young, feels good about the effort.
"I'm always impressed with how wacky and creative the kids get with the costumes," she said. "It's a great unifying event that promotes healthy living and good eating to our kids."
Young said the funds raised at the walk-a-thon will be split between the two schools and spent on things not normally covered by the schools' budgets. Linderman, she said, tends to spend the money on technology, like the Smart Boards they purchased last year. Cherry Valley, she said, has added playground equipment in the past.