Autumn Lindros had the opportunity to learn and practice some karate moves on Friday afternoon — something she had never done before.
Karate was one of several activities Lindros and 229 other students from Sunset Elementary School participated in throughout the day during the school’s first walk-a-thon/wellness day at Northern Lights Arena and Thunder Bay Recreation Center.
“It’s really fun because I get to spend time with my friends,” said Lindros, a sixth-grader. “I like the exercise, especially in the winter.”
The event was organized by the Sunset Elementary School Parent Advisory Council. The idea for it initially began as a walk-a-thon to raise money for the school but was expanded to become a wellness day after the council received recommendations from NLA and the rec center, said PAC member Lisa VanDusen.
VanDusen said another purpose of the day is to help promote the various programs NLA and the rec center have to offer.
“There’s so much in the news about childhood obesity and promoting children’s health,” she said. “We’re hoping some of the students can join some of these activities when we’re done today.”
Between 9:15 a.m. and 3 p.m. preschool through sixth grade students participated in various activities such as gymnastics, tennis, walking, karate and ice skating for segmented blocks of time.
Area organizations such as Wild Kitten Gymnastics, Northern Tiger Karate and Alpena Tennis Association donated their time to provide the activities. More than 40 adults, including Sunset staff, PAC members and parents volunteered their time for the event, said Cirrae Heisel, PAC treasurer.
“We have a lot of sponsors in the community who have donated a box of apples for their snacks to paying the ice time for us to use the arena,” she said.
Each grade participated in the walk-a-thon portion of the event by running or walking laps around the arena’s walking track. Students took donations from friends and family by flat rate or by lap to raise money. The money will be used toward the purchase of new projector equipment for the elementary school.
“We’d like to have one for every classroom,” Heisel said.
Beth Watkins, a Sunset first grade teacher, said she thought the day was a wonderful experience for the students.
“It teaches them the importance of staying healthy, especially with the weather being as cold as it is. They really needed this,” she said.
Principal Pauline Burnham said the event was a success and has been one of the best fund-raisers Sunset has ever had.
“Our PAC parents have been planning and organizing this day for months and it has all come together in an event to remember,” she said.
VanDusen said PAC hopes to make the day an annual event.
Patty Ramus can be reached via e-mail at pramus@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.
