Students raise more than $21,000 by walking

Published 3:20 pm Friday, October 25, 2013

Sibley Elementary School students walk along Lincoln Avenue as part of the Stroll for a Goal walkathon on Thursday. -- Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

Sibley Elementary School students walk along Lincoln Avenue as part of the Stroll for a Goal walkathon on Thursday. — Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

Students at Sibley Elementary School raised a little more than $21,000 for a walkathon called Stroll for a Goal.

The walk was Thursday, and groups of students left Sibley to stroll around the neighborhood. Students took pledge forms home and asked for donations from family, neighbors and the community, according to Amy Ladlie, treasurer for Sibley’s parent-teacher organization, called Sibley SHARE.

Jacob Taylor bounces Thursday at Sibley Elementary School. Children at the school who raised $75 or more for the walkathon got to bungee bounce as a prize. There were a total of 164 children who raised $75 or more. -- Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

Jacob Taylor bounces Thursday at Sibley Elementary School. Children at the school who raised $75 or more for the walkathon got to bungee bounce as a prize. There were a total of 164 children who raised $75 or more. — Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

“The kids did a really good job,” she said.

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This is the second year the elementary school has done a walkathon to raise funds. Last year students raised around $16,000. And since Sibley SHARE’s budget is $20,000 each year, Ladlie said they won’t have to try other fundraisers like selling food, gift wrap or other items.

“One of the main reasons we went to a walkathon is to get the kids active and encourage a healthy lifestyle,” Ladlie said.

Funds raised help Sibley SHARE hold Fun Night, assemblies, field trips, author visits, Gifted and Talented programming, room parties and other events. Ladlie said the parent-teacher organization has other projects in mind on a sort of wish list so they may save some of the funds to go to bigger projects. She said she and the others on the organization were impressed with the students.

“We’re just overwhelmed,” Ladlie said “They kids worked really hard.”

Students could work toward prizes and incentives, too. Children who raised $75 or more got to use a bungee bounce setup at the school on Thursday. Ladlie said 164 kids made the $75 or more goal. Another prize was a limo ride that included pizza. Ladlie said she was glad for the support from the community, and the funds have been put to good use from both walk-a-thon events.

“We’ve had great success both years,” Ladlie said.