By Sarah Light, staff writer

Students, teachers and family of St. Theodore&8217;s Catholic School will be out walking around Fountain Lake Friday as they take part in the Minnesota Marathon for Nonpublic Education.

The event, which is considered to be a major public relations and fund-raising activity in support of nonpublic education, will begin around 12:30 p.m.

&8220;It gives visibility that we are a nonpublic school and that we offer alternative education which is also Christ-centered,&8221; the Rev. Jim Berning said.

Participants obtain donations from sponsors and then walk, run, jog or bike the marathon or perform service projects. Then, all money collected will be given directly to the school or to the nonpublic educational activity of each participant&8217;s choice.

&8220;We invite everybody to come out and please pledge,&8221; Berning said.

This year, the goal for St. Theodore students is $14,000. Last year, participants raised more than $10,000, he said.

The marathon officially kicked off Sept. 19 when students began collecting pledges.

It enables those who support and advocate nonpublic education to make a public demonstration of their belief and involvement, according to a news release.

&8220;The marathon is a highly visible, public statement of the commitment of parents and children to nonpublic schools,&8221; said Chris Leifeld, executive director of the Minnesota Marathon for Nonpublic Education, in the release. &8220;What an opportunity to say who we are, to support one another and to demonstrate our strength and goodness, while having fun and raising needed funds.&8221;

Since the marathon was founded on a state level in 1974, more than $75 million has been donated to the cause.