More than 500 adults and children swarmed onto St. Mary's School playground Sunday to participate in the 12th Annual Spring Fling.
Kicking off the event at 10 a.m. was the 3K race in honor of the late Colin Casey, a student at St. Mary's who died of heart failure in 1991. The event drew 400 runners, according to Michael Gribbon who co-chaired the event with his wife Gage.
This year's winner was Patrick Schooly who covered the 1.86 mile course to the waterfront and back to the school at Green and S. Royal streets in less than 10 minutes, Gribbon reported. "Funds raised through the race are donated to the scholarship fund named for Casey," he explained.
"We have an excellent turnout and great weather," Katy Gaietto, who served as co-chair of the Spring Fling along with her husband Michael, said. The event featured carnival rides, contests, crafts, games, and "lots of great food," according to Gaietto. Proceeds go to benefit the school.
ONE OF THE adult highlights was the "Cake Walk," held in the school gymnasium. In it's second year, it featured specially created and donated cakes, which can be won for fifty cents by picking the right number at a spin wheel.
Each year, the Alexandria Fire Department also uses the Spring Fling to stage its first demonstration for EMS Week. This year's theme is "We're There Because We Care," and three firefighter paramedics were on hand to enlighten Alexandria citizens on available emergency services and safety tips.