Each year the students at Springfield Plains Elementary strap on their running shoes and release their energy in the Fun Run, the Parent Teacher Association’s only annual fundraiser.
According to second grader Amber, the Fun Run, “is about having fun.”
Fellow student Shannon explains, “We get to run around the gym and after get to eat. If it’s not raining we get to run outside.”
Along with pledges raised for each lap a student runs, every year the Fun Run has a theme and/or correlating charity drive.
The theme this year is “Building Playgrounds Together — One Step at a Time.”
A school-wide collection for used tennis shoes has already begun and will be held until the Fun Run event, Friday, Sept. 26.
The shoes will then be donated to the Nike Corporation. Nike grinds the soles and creates playground bases for inner-city play areas, Carol Foos, Fun Run chairperson said, adding The Running Gear store in Waterford is covering the cost of shipping the shoes to Nike.
“My fifth grade daughter, Anna, came up with the idea and I thought that was so great,” Foos said.
Shoes in good condition will be given to Clarkston resident Maureen Tippen who will be taking the shoes to the Dominican Republic in February for children who have no shoes.
“Our goal is to raise enough money from our pledges to cover the PTA budget and have enough left over to improve our own playground,” Foos said.
The PTA budget covers school events and programs like Festival Day, Destination Imagination, Field Day, Family Fun Night, Art Smarts as well as help provide beautification and other improvements to the building.