Run to help school invest in bigger track

By Frances Vanderploeg

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | midnight

Now that the vision to build the William McCool Science Center has been realized, Frank Lamping Elementary School students and administrators are working on a new goal: An Olympic track and field.

Kindergarten teacher and event organizer Lori Garman said the idea first developed after seeing how interested the students were in the school's mileage club.

"We thought, with an interest like that, wouldn't it be nice if we could make our track, a track?" Garman said.

Additionally, some of the playground area was lost to the science building, so the money would help reorganize the entire field and playground area to make more room for the students, she said.

Principal Michael O'Dowd estimates it will cost $52,000 to complete the project. They have $20,000 left to raise, he said.

To raise the money, Garman and school administrators are inviting students, parents and community members to the fourth Run for the Stars 5K and 1-mile Fun Run event Oct. 18. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

The first two runs were held to raise money for the science center, but this one and the last one will sponsor the track and field. Garman is hoping they'll be able to finish the track and field by the end of the school year.

Garman said the plan for the track is to have it the official length of an Olympic track, though they don't have enough room for as many lanes. There will also be two new ballfields that can be used for kickball, baseball or softball, a soccer field with two goals, five Gym-I-Nee hoops, shade trees and benches.

Gym-I-Nee hoops are similar to basketball hoops, but, after throwing the ball in the basket, it will be ejected from one of four multicolored chutes, earning students different points depending on which chute the ball comes out of.

Lamping students can run for free but are encouraged to find sponsors. Those who earn $100 or more will be invited to a special Mad Science day camp during a staff development day.

Anyone else interested can join, Garman said. Registration can be completed online at www.active.com or at Lamping's office.

There are no plans for future fundraisers at this point, but Garman said she plans to continue holding the fun run for several years to come, whether they have a cause or not.

"We'll continue just because it's really popular with the kids," she said. "In the past we've held galas and different things to raise money, but this is where the kids get involved. … They're so excited, which gets me even more excited."

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or [email protected].