paradise canyon elementarypalm crest elementaryla cañada elementary:

Students from La Canada elementary schools were a running force to be reckoned with on Friday as they raced around their playground fields. Through all the giggles and smiles no one tell that all this running was serious work, each lap strengthened their school and supported their education.

The La Canada Flintridge Educational Foundation annual jog-a-thon has become a very successful, and popular fundraiser. According to the event chair Craig Miller.

Throughout the day students ran during their regular Physical Education class. Volunteer moms and dads, some armed with squirt bottles and markers, helped keep the kids cool and tracked their laps. Each time a child crossed their lap line, parents would mark a line across their arm.

At La Canada Elementary one student Jax Jacinto had his leg marked rather than his arm. At Palm Crest Elementary there was a bit of drama when first grader, Megan Solares, first grader, lost her front tooth just before the race. She ran off the track, put the tooth in a safe place, gave a toothless smile to her mom and ran her laps.

At Paradise Canyon Elementary the pop cycle reward was enjoyed by a group of students. A wave of numbers began to fill the air.

“I ran 22,” said one child.

“I ran 26,” said another.

“I think I ate too much candy,” said second grader Matthew Kim as he finished the run. He referred to Halloween candy that had been eaten just a few days earlier.

Two Paradise Canyon girls, Abilgail Lidar and Meghan Gay, ran up to explain why they ran and why the jog-a-thon was so important.

“We got these yellow bracelets,” Lidar said of the jog-a-thon rubber bracelets given to every student.

“It feels good,” Gay said.

“I will keep it [the bracelet] and look band and remember what I did today,” Lidar said.