WOODSTOCK — Woodstock Elementary School is hosting its fourth annual Produce Pursuit 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, June 7, to raise money for its Healthy Snack Fund.
Fourth-grade teacher Karen Wilson said Thursday afternoon that the run/walk began after a 2010 meeting of the Parent Teacher Association.
“We were trying to come up with a health initiative for the children at Woodstock school, something that would focus on lifestyle changes,” Wilson said. “We were also a part of the Let’s Go! 5210 group, and our principal proposal for them was to host a fun run race.”
Wilson, along with third-grade teacher Tanya Nichols, are spearheading the 2014 Produce Pursuit 5K.
“Tanya has done a huge bulk of the work,” Wilson said. “She’s done a tremendous job.”
The Produce Pursuit 5K race is split into three categories: 5K run for ages 13 and older, 5K walk for ages 13 and older; and 5K walk for ages 12 and younger.
The 5K run and 5K walk for ages 13 and older will cost $20; the 5K walk for ages 12 and younger will cost $5.
Registration begins at 7 a.m., the event starts at 9 a.m. A free, one-mile fun run for younger children will be held at 8 a.m.
“For several years, our school has been lucky to get a grant that allows us to promote healthy snacks,” Wilson said. “We’ve had the grant for several years, but this year we didn’t get it.”
The grants are allocated based on the percentage of free- and reduced-price lunches the school serves, she said.
“This year, we didn’t make the cut,” Wilson said.
She said the Healthy Snack Fund was created to raise money in case the school didn’t get the grant.
“We’ve been using the money we raise through the 5K to supplement the grants we receive,” Wilson said. “Whenever we have a teacher who wants to cook in the class or make healthy snacks for their students, we use the Healthy Snack Fund to help.”
Wilson said refreshments at the 5K will be provided by Hannaford Supermarket.
“This is the first year that they’ve helped us with food,” she said. “There are tons of local businesses that have really helped us out this year.”
T-shirts will be given to the first 125 registrants and awards will be presented at 10:30 a.m. to the top finishers in each gender division.
For more information, call the school at 665-2228.
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