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Jog-a-Thon keeps students running at Starkey Elementary
By BOB McCLURE
Article published on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/040108_smb-03.jpg) |
| Photo by BOB McCLURE |
| A group of students get in a few laps March 27 during Starkey Elementary School’s annual Jog-a-Thon fundraiser. |
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SEMINOLE – It started 25 years ago and now is one of the largest in-school fundraisers in Pinellas County.
The silver anniversary of Starkey Elementary School’s annual Jog-a-Thon took place March 24 to 28 and is expected to raise around $40,000 for school projects and supplies.
The one-week event, which is organized by physical education teachers Jim Libby, Sue Chason, David Wonch and Carol Tuorto, gives students an opportunity to get sponsorships for laps completed around a one-third mile track on the school campus.
Students run before school and during physical education classes, along with more than 100 parents who also log laps for their children’s classes.
“The class in each grade that has the most miles gets an ice cream party,” said Libby. “Everybody in the whole school gets a pizza party and a small trophy.”
Trophies are also awarded to age group winners, as well as the overall male and female winners who win a trip to Pizza Hut in a limousine.
Students also are awarded pencils for laps completed at various intervals.
Sponsors pledge certain amounts per mile completed, which leads to some large sums raised.
“It’s usually about a couple of bucks per mile,” said Wonch, “but I’ve seen kids bring in pledge sheets with much more. Then there are flat donations as well.”
Students collecting $75 to $99 earn personalized bronze medals, silver medals go to those bringing in $100 to $124 and gold medals to students getting $125 or more.
“This is really a huge project for the school each year,” said Libby. “It helps to pay for a lot of things the school needs.”
Among the targeted projects this year are a $1,400 defibrillator, contributions to a fund to put a cover on the school’s second basketball court, computers and classroom supplies.
“The money can only go to buy things for the kids,” said Libby.
This year’s total won’t be known until all of the pledge sheets are collected but a figure similar to last year’s $40,000 is expected.
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Article published on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
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