BY CHRIS QUARTARONE
Fifth- and sixth-graders at McKelvie Intermediate School got to skateboard, hula hoop, jog and ride scooters all at their first annual Move-A-Thon.
Since Ross A. Lurgio Middle School opened to seventh and eighth grades Aug. 29, McKelvie students and staff created its own fundraiser, said teacher Marie Alsap.
“We wanted to come up with something unique for our school,” said Alsap said. “There is an initiative by the federal government to be healthy, so we thought this would fit right in.”
For weeks leading up to the event students collected sponsors and donations for Move-A-Thon, and on the day of the event, students moved for one hour straight in the activity of their choice.
According to Alsap, some students received flat donations while others were sponsored for a small amount for every lap or hoop they made.
“One hundred percent of the money will go straight back to the school,” said Principal Michael Fournier.
Some proceeds will go toward playground equipment for the school, said Alsap.
Fournier got the idea for the fundraiser after seeing a similar one in Dracut, Mass.
Dozens of volunteers, some parents, came out to help run the fundraiser.
Volunteer Kacey Graham loved being a part of it.
“This is great for the school and the kids are having a blast,” she said.
Across the fields of McKelvie students jogged, skateboarded, hula-hooped, walked, jumped rope, played basketball, rollerbladed, played hopscotch and rode scooters.
The cool weather and slight drizzle didn’t keep any students from being excited to be part of the fundraiser.
Fifth-graders Brianna Belgrave-Sealy and her sister, Brittany, couldn’t wait to start hop scotching.
“This is something I never get bored of,” said Brianna.
Brianna said if everyone in a class participated in Move-A-Thon, then that class would get a pizza party.
Zach Anderson chose to hula hoop as his activity and admitted hula hooping can be hard.
“I learned by looking at other people, like my sister,” he said.
Caelan Koolman is on the Bedford travel basketball team and knew basketball was the activity he would choose.
“I really love this sport,” he said.
On Nov. 8, the school will have a rally and give out prizes to those who raised the most money as well as who got the most sponsors.