Reese Road Elementary students recently raised money for an important cause while getting exercise and having fun at the same time.
During the first week of April, students at the school in Frankfort participated in a “Hop-a-thon,” to raise money for muscular dystrophy.
The disease is a group of more than 30 genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
In all, the students were able to raise more than $2,400.
Students throughout the whole school took part in Mike Giambrone’s physical education class, but had the option of whether to participate just for fun or to raise money as well.
Giambrone said around 50 students in the school decided to take part in the challenge and raise money for muscular dystrophy.
Those who participated went out into the community to collect donations from area individuals and businesses. Donors had the option to donate a flat rate or an amount per hop, depending on how much the student hopped during the event.
After the event was over, students went out with their recorded hop statistics to gather the money said Giambrone.
He said hopping was a collective effort, Giambrone would time the hopping student for one minute while another classmate recorded the number of times the jumping student hopped.
“It was a team effort,” said Giambrone.
He said he and his classes participated in a similar event two years.
“(People from Muscular Dystrophy organization) were appreciative then and they asked me if we were interested in doing it again,” said Giambrone. “I thought it was a good idea and a worthy cause to do it again.”