Longview students jog for money

Chrystal Doucette/Columbia Basin HeraldStudents at Longview Elementary School race around a track Wednesday to raise money for the school.

by Chrystal Doucette<br>Herald Staff Writer
| October 9, 2008 9:00 PM

Organizers hope to raise $16,700

MOSES LAKE - Longview Elementary School students ran laps Wednesday to raise money for a more enriching school experience.

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) organized its eighth annual jog-a-thon.

Last year, approximately $16,700 was raised through the event, said PTA President Michelle Karstetter. Organizers hoped to match last year's amount.

Students collected pledges from the community before the big event. Approximately 555 students participated, Karstetter said.

"It was wonderful," she said. "The kids had a great time. Everything flowed well."

Karstetter said money funds special guests, such as Cowboy Buck & Elizabeth, Tears of Joy Theatre, W.E. C.A.R.E. Sports and Pacific Science Center.

Money also supports new computer equipment - approximately $5,000 was invested in computers in the past four years, Karstetter said.

New books were purchased with past money as well. Money also funds a year-end field trip to the Moses Lake Family Aquatic Center.

Playground equipment is another expense supported by the jog-a-thon.

"We are actually saving for big playground equipment," Karstetter noted.

Approximately $35,000 was raised so far to replace equipment as old as the school, Karstetter said. The cost to replace the equipment is an estimated $80,000, she said.

The jog-a-thon is Longview's only school-wide fund-raiser, according to Karstetter.

First-grade student Ellie Knox said after reaching her fifth lap, the best part about the event was the running.

Peer Nathan Bushman said his favorite part about the event was "that there's signs up."

Each student participating in the event received a T-shirt, which included the names of the event's 21 sponsors.

"The sponsorships, they pay for the T-shirts, which basically unites our school," Karstetter said.

The T-shirts elicit school pride, excite the children, and provide promotion for the sponsoring businesses, she said.

Top pledge collectors and top lap runners for each grade level receive a medal. The top pledge collectors in the school, one girl and one boy, ride a fire truck to school, Karstetter said.

If the $16,700 mark is reached, Longview Principal Robbie Mason and District Superintendent Steve Chestnut will dress like cheerleaders and visit students in their classrooms, she said.

About 60 parents volunteered to help with the event, Karstetter noted.