Students take on fun run fundraiser

SANDPOINT — A Boosterthon fun run is a nine-day, pledge-based fundraiser that promotes fitness, fun and community in schools across the nation.

The fun run has come to the Lake Pend Oreille School District for the first time this year, as students at Farmin-Stidwell Elementary are up to the challenge.

“Our goal is to raise …” Farmin-Stidwell Principal Erik Olson cut himself off as he held the microphone up to one of the younger students at Monday’s energetic pep rally, who finished the sentence for him with a shy answer of “$10,000.” As Olson asked him again how much the goal is, the shyness disappeared as the youngster loudly announced the amount into the microphone for all to hear.

The nine-day “Wild West”-themed program kicked off Monday with the pep rally at the school to get the kids excited about raising money. Then, on Oct. 3, they will spend the morning running 30 to 35 laps around the school fields.

Stephanie Reimann, president of the school’s Partners in Education group, said one of the teachers at Farmin-Stidwell recently read about the Boosterthon program, so they decided to give it a try, changing things up from the school’s usual fall fundraiser. Reimann and the PIE group, which is the school’s parent-teacher organization, organized the event.

“Our goal is to create a great experience for kids at school through raising money and supporting events, field trips, assemblies and teacher appreciation,” Reimann said of PIE.

The funds raised through the fun run will ultimately help pay for some new playground equipment, because some of the older equipment that the students enjoyed was removed before school started. The funds will go toward some classroom upgrades as well, she said.

The kids will be asking family and friends for pledges over the next week to earn a variety of prizes based on dollars per lap. For instance, if they raise $1 per lap, they can earn an invisible ink pen, or a razor power rider at $50 per lap, with various other prize levels in between.

Anyone who knows a Farmin-Stidwell student you and would like to help them earn some prizes and aid the school in reaching its ultimate goal are encouraged to contact that student and their family, or contact the school. If you do not know a student, but would like to help out anyway, contact the school at 208-265-2417 or email the PIE group at farminstidwellpie@gmail.com.

Families are invited to the fun run with their kids, which Reimann said will be a “high energy” event full of fun and music. There will be two run times, she said, one at 8:30 a.m. and one at 9:30 a.m., on Oct. 3 at the Farmin-Stidwell fields. Each run will last about 30 minutes as the kids do their 30-35 laps.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.