Hike Helps Portola Elementary Step Up Donations for Annual Fundraiser

embarked on its 27th annual Sweeney Ridge Hike Tuesday morning to raise money for the school and continue its tradition started by now-retired teacher Mike Casey.

Every year the entire school hikes up the ridge to the place where the explorer whom the school is named after, Gaspar de Portola, discovered San Francisco Bay.

The hike is now named in honor of Casey.

Besides emphasizing the importance of physical fitness, the hike is the focal point for the school's hike-a-thon fundraiser, in which students collect donations for the school's PTA. 

This year, the school is expected to raise more than $40,000 through the hike-a-thon to support the school's P.E. and music programs, instructional aides, field trips, assemblies, afterschool tutoring and library materials.