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Like its larger predecessor conducted annually in Rock County, Luverne Elementary School’s Relay for Life event features pledges, luminaries and walking.
On Friday, Feb. 5, the school’s event raised $5,656.40 for cancer research.
“We had a very successful relay,” said Principal Stacy Gillette.
Walking is not a new activity for the elementary school.
The first Friday of every month, students, staff and a few family members circle the gymnasium (or outside track, weather permitting) to promote regular physical exercise.
Gillette said the school occasionally conducts a fundraiser in conjunction with its monthly walkathons. February’s event raised funds for the American Cancer Society.
Students could opt to ask friends and family members for monetary pledges. Those students received a purple footprint to place in the classroom hallway. Many of the footprints had a name of someone they know affected by cancer.
Students also decorated white paper bags that formed an outline of an oval track in the gym. On the bags were pictures and/or names written in brightly colored markers. A block of wood was placed in the bags to keep them upright. For safety reasons, the bags did not contain candles.
All students participated in the walkathon, spending 25 minutes of their day walking the track formed by the unlit luminaries. Fourteen laps equaled one mile.