The morning of Oct. 28, the streets of South Riding will be filled with parents, children, teachers and volunteers, all running to raise money for local schools. What started out last year as a small fund-raiser for a local elementary school has turned into the Stone Ridge 5K.
"A group of parents got together to raise money for Pinebrook Elementary School," Dee Kuhn, who is working on communications for the event, said, "and it just grew from there."
When the final money is tallied, four other South Riding schools will join Pinebrook in benefiting from the fund-raiser: Hutchison Farm Elementary, Little River Elementary, Mercer Middle School and Freedom High School.
"We have such an active community," Dawn Haddock, Pinebrook's principal, said. "Our parents are very involved. They have been wonderful."
RUNNERS WILL BEGIN the race at 9 a.m., Oct. 28, helped along the way by more than 100 volunteers, Kuhn said. The day of the race residents will be helping out with registration, directing cars and handing out information. Local Boy and Girl Scout troops will be on hand as well as giving out water and refreshments for runners.
"All of the bases are covered," Kuhn said.
The race was designed by a professional racing company, Capitol Running Company, who, Kuhn said, designed the course, is handing out bib numbers and organizing all of the volunteers.
"It has all been very well done," she said. "Being involved with this company ensures high standards."
THE RACE WAS developed to raise money for things schools would not be able to afford on their own, such as sporting equipment.
"We want to be able to provide those things to the kids," Kuhn said. "The whole idea is designed to garner money for the schools for the things they are lacking."
Indeed, Haddock said that she hopes to be able to use the money raised by the race to put a new track in at Pinebrook.
"We have a running club two days a week," she said. "We would like to continue for a longer time and a track would let us do that."
Without the fund-raiser, Haddock said, the school would not be able to pay for a new track.
"It wouldn't financially be in the realm at all, but this way we can put aside money and get us in the direction of getting a new track," she said.
While Haddock said saving up enough money for the track might take a couple of years, she and the staff at Pinebrook are excited for the event.
"It is going to be a great community adventure," she said.
To encourage the schools' involvement, race organizers put together a gold cup competition. The school with the most participation gets a trophy to display.
"This will be a traveling trophy," Kuhn said. "Each year it will be passed on to the school who has the most participation."
CREATING A SENSE of community is another important aspect of the five-kilometer race, Kuhn said.
"This is a great opportunity for all these folks to come together," she said. "Parents, grandparents, children, neighbors."
Immediately following the longer race, will be a one-kilometer race, designed for younger children and families. While there is no age cutoff for the five-kilometer race, younger children are encouraged to run in the shorter race.
"This way if you wanted to get out with your family, this would be a great way to do that, without having to worry about your younger children," Kuhn said. "We encourage everyone to come and take part."
The race will also kick off community developer Van Metre's fall festival, which will include a Halloween parade, hayride and costume contest.
"There are going to be a lot of people [at the race] dressed in costumes," Kuhn said. "Kids are especially encouraged to dress up."
To sign up for the race or to learn more, visit www.stoneridge5K.org.