Frank Pearse, the principal at Seaview community school in Port Moody, wanted his school’s effort to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation to really leave an impression, maybe even impart a few lessons about dedication and perseverance.
So, he said, he got a “crazy idea.”
Why not assemble a team of young runners to carry the proceeds from Seaview’s fundraising efforts all the way to the foundation’s office in downtown Port Coquitlam?
Then he looked at a map.
Pearse realized the kids from Grades 2 to 5 would be hard-pressed to cover the 12.5 km distance. So he plotted a route and approached the principals of five other schools along it whether they would be interested in joining. One school, Hillcrest middle, would assist the effort by being a refreshment pitstop where the runners could fuel up on oranges, bananas and sports drinks.
Friday morning, with Pearse leading the way like a safety vest-clad pied piper, 105 kids from Seaview, Miller Park, Parkland, Riverview Park and R.C. McDonald schools delivered a cheque for more than $15,000 to the foundation.
Each school contributed by holding their own fundraisers.
“It was really neat to see the kids working together for a common purpose,” Pearse said.
As Seaview students had to run the furtherest, Pearse had devised a month-long training program to build their stamina, including two runs a week at lunch hour with their principal.
Pearse, a recreational runner himself, said it was gratifying to see the kids learn how to pace themselves.
“They learned when they do it at the right pace, they can go for 12.5 kms,” he said.
Organizing the run meant arranging for a police escort from the Coquitlam RCMP, who provided a squad car and a member of the bike patrol, devising ways to keep track of all the participants and establishing protocols for the throng to safely cross busy intersections.
“A lot of effort went into making it safe for the kids,” Pearse said.
Almost everyone reached the destination, although a few had to get a little help from a sag wagon.
“It worked out really well,” Pearse said.
