With more than 1,000 people in attendance, the 2012 New Balance 5K Benefiting Playworks raised $12,000 and gave 200 students from 31 Playworks schools the opportunity to participate in their first official race. The warm sun, coupled with volunteers high-fiving participants along the course, made this year’s 5K and 1-mile fun run a true community event.
Playworks also gave partner schools the opportunity to raise money to help pay Playworks school fees in 2012-2013. Coach Mika, the Playworks program coordinator at the Manning Elementary School, was proud to be a part of the event, as well as have the opportunity to bring together her school community in such a unique way. She agreed to get pied in the face if at least 40 people signed up to participate from her school, so it was no surprise she was eating whip cream at the start of the race.
The school hit their goal, running every day at recess during “Running Club”,and came together in support of Playworks. On the day of the event, Coach Mika ran with students from every grade at her school, ages four to 12. They did cheers at the starting line and high-fived their principal as they ran along the course.
Now every time the students talk about the event at school, they say “Coach Mika! Look at my 5K shirt! I finished!”
