By Kyra Gillespie
Prep to grade six students at Berwick Chase Primary School raised more than $20,000 for their school at the CUA School Fun Run on Thursday 26 October.
Raising heartrates and funds, the fun run focused on using exercise as a way of raising money for the school, rather than by selling junk food like chocolates and lollies.
Instead of putting on a traditional cross country-style run, Berwick Chase had a range of obstacles and activities for the kids on the day.
Obstacles included running through tyres, five colour stations, bubbles, tunnels, a noodle run, dance station, army crawling and running under a parachute.
“It was an absolute success,” Berwick Chase teacher Katie Atkin said.
“Everyone was rapt by the effort that the kids put in, both on the day and in the fundraising leading up to the day.
“We have raised over $20,000 with funds still coming in.”
For a lot of kids, the thought of cross country is far from exciting, but not a complaint was heard on this day according to Ms Atkin.
“When kids get told they have to run laps for cross country they’re not always thrilled, but on the day they just ran lap after lap. They loved every minute of it.
“Parents and family members came along and participated on the day, it was a lot of fun.”
To raise money, the students had to organise their own sponsors.
“They got given a sponsorship booklet and could choose to raise the money either online or offline.
“We had sponsorship from every state in Australia and as far as the UK.
“The money was coming thick and fast from all around the world, which is a real credit to the kids and their families.”
Berwick Chase has some exciting plans in store for where the money will go.
“We haven’t decided yet, but it has to be fun and something that the kids get immediate benefit from.”
