On Sept. 25, students from Westbrook School are once again hitting the pavement for their Walk-a-Thon, but this time with a change of route.
Instead of walking to Bottrel Park and then back to the school, Westbrook School Walk-a-Thon chair Karen Allison said they wanted to simplify the route.
A portion of unmaintained road along last year’s course proved to be problematic with wetter conditions, Allison said.
“We’re of course hoping for brilliant sunny weather.”
The route will begin at the same spot at Range Roads 43 and 280 at 9 a.m., with students heading north until Range Road 281A. Students Grades 1 to 8 will continue west until the dead end where they’ll head back towards Highway 22 and then back towards the school.
The entire school, 163 kids from kindergarten to Grade 8, will be taking part in the walk-a-thon. Kindergarten students will walk the 5.5 km, Grade 1 students will walk 9 km and Grades 2 to 8 will walk 11.5 km.
The walk will again finish off with a hotdog lunch and celebration, but at the school instead of Bottrel Park.
Last year, the event raised just under $23,000, with the school able to raise over $20,000 the past three years. The money helps fund sports programs, classroom resources and arts activities as well as sending students to theatre productions, such as Charlotte’s Web last year.
“It’s the school’s primary fundraiser, so it’s a important one from that perspective,” Allison said, adding that the extra money helps to greatly enrich the students’ experiences.
“The arts programs we’ve had access to have been pretty awesome. I don’t know other schools have that opportunity.”
For more information, contact Karen at 403-999-9984.
