5K School Fundraisers. Trick or Trot Your Way to $$$.
What school isn’t hungry for great ideas for a fundraiser? Wrapping paper, candy, candles.
As a girl, one year I went door-to-door selling scented candles. Each time someone would buy one, I was like God bless you. Now I like scented candles as much as the next person — but frosted glass and pictures of sad-eyed puppy dogs? Guess you can never have enough of those.
Breaking ground and new vistas for fundraising, our local elementary school holds a 5K the weekend before Halloween. The Trick or Trot 5K and Fun Run.
They make a huge profit and create a fun family event for the community.
This year’s race was last Saturday.
You can tell by the photos that it was cold. Cold for us Georgia folks away.
It was a beautiful day. As any runner knows, standing around in the cold before a race might not be the most pleasant but cold temps make running the race all the better.
Trick or Trot co-organizer Stephanie Keener said that there were 455 race registrants for both one mile Fun Run and 5K.
That’s a great turn out for any local 5K.
Though the Fun Run wasn’t timed, the majority of attendees participated in the mile race. Adults and children running, walking or skipping the distance.
Keener said that 169 folks completed the 5K.
Here’s a list of the top 11 Over all finishers. I went all the way to number 11 to include the lovely Elizabeth Branch who was top finisher for the women. Woo.
Below are the children of number 10 and number 11. So very cute and so very fast.
Kate Branch (11) finished 2nd in her age group. Big brother Alex (12) finished 2nd Overall. AMAZING.
Trevin Peters (9) was the second place finisher in 4th grade. And second in his age group. AWESOME.
My son and I were signed up to run the 5K. As I stumbled to the coffee pot in the dark last Saturday, my mind was telling me to do the Fun Run because other than PE and rec league football, my 9 year old had not run any distance.
I discussed this with him and he agreed to the one mile.
We dressed. Bundled up in the car and headed to Rutledge where the race started.
As the car bumped over the train tracks out of town my son said, “Mom. I really want to run the 5K.”
I explained again how I didn’t think he was trained. Code for — you will have a meltdown half way through.
“Mom. I want to have a sense of accomplishment today, then wake up for my birthday tomorrow.”
What’s a mom to say to that?
Participating in an organized event and crossing the finish line is all about accomplishing something.
Never be discouraged — no matter your place. Everyone who completed the distance finished ahead of everyone who stayed in bed.
My son and I started the three miles and all was great till .87 miles when he asked if we were almost done.
That’s when I started pointing out the cows.
We got the to the turn around and I needed motivation for a nine year old who wanted to accomplish something.
But had forgotten that fact.
I reached in my sweatshirt pocket and felt some rolled up bills. Change from a twenty I broke earlier in the week.
As we walked along the asphalt, I pulled out the roll. “I will give you this money — no matter how much it is — if you finish without complaining.”
148. Joe Miles, 48:37.7
149. Jamie Miles 48:43.1
Keener said that she and her co-chair Kristi Fridell, worked great together in months of preparation before the big day.
“It was a lot of fun. A lot of hard work — but we were a great team.”
How much did the Trick or Trot raise for the school?
Are you ready?
The profit was over $11,000.
That’s a lot of wrapping paper.
Thanks so much to two very talented ladies.
Have you ever run — walked — a 5K with a child? Bribery or no.
Linking up with the fabulous Greta@gfunkieds and Sarah@sundayspill for #iPPP.
That is AWESOME!! I love that you two finished together. My daughter and my mom and I did a 5K for Girls on the Run this summer (?). She was five at the time, I think, almost six, and refused to run at all. She complained a lot, but God bless my mom….she was able to distract Ivy enough to finish. It was the longest 5K EVER and we finished dead last (well, right in front of the policemen on their motorcycles). BUT, my daughter was proud.
We also did a fun run (a mile) this past weekend with all of the kids, my husband, and my mom. There was a scavenger hunt and kitty cat face painting along the way, and I think it raised a lot of money for the daycare that was putting it on, too.
If I ever get the chance to organize a fundraiser for the school, I’m totally suggesting this!
I agree Greta. I told the two women who did this — that they could start their own company that would help schools with all the logistics. This was only the second year and they almost doubled their profit.
What a great idea for a fundraiser. I actually just did Run or Dye, a 5k fun run, with my girls who are 2 and 6. We had planned to train, but simmering in the way. The kids got more and more excited as the date got closer. I, on the other hand, began to reconsider my sanity. Me, single jogging stroller, 2 kids. And then I got my preface email that stated the first 500-1000 runners would start at 9 am. An additional 500 runners would be released every 5-10 minutes until 10:30. And couldn’t do the math opting to just decided was insane to consider this a great idea.
Race day dawned. We got up early. And i didn’t chicken out. I did have a moment of clarity and sharpie my cell phone number onto both girls stomach. We had a phenomenal time, whining aside. The girls did very well. Run or Dye was incredibly well organized and family friendly. The volunteers spreading the color were incredibly respectful of the strollers, in fact I had to ask that they hit my 2 yr old on the legs. Even with my 2 yr old running, I never felt overrun or that she might get knocked down or separated from me. The girls cannot wait for next year – we are registered for 2 races.
Sarah, now that is AMAZING. I love the forethought to sharpie your phone number on your daughter’s tummies. No worries my dear. You were born to mother five (or more) children. 🙂
Awesome! Great idea for a fundraiser as well.
I joined Team Canada for Laura and Greta’s TNTDuel fundraiser for Leukemia research – and my son wants to walk it with me…. We’ll see how that goes 🙂
$11,000! Wonderful fundraiser – I definitely growl at all the other ones. I know Candy Man can’t possibly raise that much. Yes ma’am and last Saturday was cold for us NC folks too. We were standing on a football field and 7 am. The pictures are funny because it looks like we are dressed for snow but everything in the background is green. Love your photos – congrats. LOL to giving up the money in your pocket.
Wow, pretty impressive fundraiser, the best I have seen before that was a little over 6k for a car wash. I wish I could have been a part of it. I keep meaning to signup for a 5k around here, but get too busy. 🙁 Maybe next time.
Kudos to Stephanie and all others who helped organize and/or participated. Sounds like a lot of fun (and a great way to raise money)! Clapping & cheering you, your son, and all who walked, ran, skipped, hopped, and crawled. Congrats!
That is awesome!!! And a great idea for a school fundraiser! I’d so much rather pay $20 for that than some junk out of a catalog that I don’t really need.
Bribery or not, that’s awesome that your son finished the 5K.
xo
My 9 year old went running with me a couple of weekends ago. The plan was to do 4 miles together. He got to 2.75 and petered out. He plans to do the 1-miler while hubby and I run the 10K in 1.5 weeks. He realized 6 miles was a WEE bit too far… 😉
Great fundraiser – WOW!!
Did he actually say that? He wanted the sense of accomplishment?? 🙂
And look at you two! You weren’t even last!
The only runs I’ve done with my kids were the ones where I say, “Wait for me at the finish line”! 🙂
xo
I love the pictures and the story! We started doing a 5k at our elementary school a couple years ago, and it’s still in the growing phases, but I think it’s a great fundraiser that fits in well with a desire to keep kids healthy! I’ve walked a 5k with mine before but never run – because I never run. But I’m hoping to maybe try to jog ours in the spring.
I haven’t ever done a 5K, but my son runs in them all the time…and he loves doing it!
And you’re so right about last Saturday in GA being cold…at my SIL’s wedding, I felt like I was going to turn into a popsicle after the sun went down!
And this morning we are wet Stacy. Fall has definitely arrived.
Any races in Sudan? Must time my visit with one :).