William Perry hosts first 5K

By Jim Sacco

Published: September 25, 2008

While it may look like your average run-of-the-mill 5K run, Saturday’s event at William Perry Elementary School is a little bit more than that.

And, no, we’re not talking about the carnival planned by the Parent-Teacher Organization at the finish line.

William Perry Elementary School’s inaugural 5K run – which organizers hope will become an annual event — slated for Saturday is a fundraising opportunity to help with the schools special-education programs. Signaling the end to the hit-your-teacher-with-a-pie days of building up a school-program’s coffers.

“There’s been a big push the last couple of years for wellness,” said Jennifer Layne, a special-ed teacher at the Waynesboro school. “We figured we’d do something along those lines instead of a hot-dog eating contest.”

The six-teacher team of Layne, Lindsey Britt, Michelle Shuman, Jeanmarie Bantz, Beth Gimbert and Ann Gregory came up with the idea during one of their department meetings.

“We were talking last year on how we can raise some funds,” Layne said.

The reason a fundraiser was needed is simple. Money.

“Some of the materials are so expensive,” Shuman said.

The race, set to begin at 9 a.m., is a run-or-walk course that winds through the neighborhoods that surround William Perry. Starting behind the school on Sherwood Avenue, the course will head up Highland, follow Florence and then up Gum and down Fir before cutting around Dogwood Circle before heading up King Street back toward the school.

Registration for the race is $20 per person with a family rate of $30 given to William Perry students. There are also 25 door prizes and trophies for top male and female winners in 14 age groups.

The first 100 entrants on race day will get a T-shirt designed by William Perry fifth-grader Deshaunte Hughes.

“Everyone will get shirt,” Layne said. “Just not on race day.”