Madison High Five 5K Will Benefit Entire District

It may be in its seventh year as an event, but this year's Madison High Five 5K Run/Walk and its accompanying Kids' Fun Run is the first of its kind in one major way.

It's the first time that the money raised will go toward all five Madison public schools.

On Sunday at Madison High School, runners can show their support for education in the borough by participating, as entry fees are $25 for adults and $20 for students, with a maximum family fee of $50. Money raised at the event and from sponsors go toward what will in July officially become the Madison Education Foundation.

Until this year, the education foundation was only a high school organization, but recently the pathway to become a K-12 group has been laid down. So, instead of the money only going to the high school, the three elementary schools and the junior school will also be eligible for grants from the funds raised by the race.

"Essentially we made the decision–we have been thinking about it for a couple of years–to expand the foundation," said Anne Hargrave, president of what is currently called the Madison High School Education Foundation. "We originally were going to target down to the junior school, and we started doing that this fall; we gave a couple of grants to the junior school earlier in the school year.

"When we saw what was happening in the state and realized there could be further reduction to the cap on increasing the budget, and the reductions the state was making, we felt it was an important thing for the district to have a K–12 foundation. We made that commitment at the board level in January to do that."

Since its inception in 2003, the MHSEF has provided over $300,000 worth of grants to the high school. Hargrave said the foundation has already raised $25,000 directly from the roughly 70 sponsors who have donated money to the 5K.

Other events that will help to raise funds on Sunday are raffles for prizes such as a New York Jets autographed football, a DeFabio Chiropractic stretching kit, a Creative Hands art class, personal training at Bronco's Gym, a Madison Area YMCA membership extension, Parisi Speed School classes, a Sages Pages basket of books and fun kids' items, a Stewart-Morris Vera Bradley basket, and chocolate from Mostly Chocolate.

Also, new limited edition green tie-dye T-shirts will be introduced and available for $20. Cash and checks will be accepted for their purchase. Hargrave said the kids are already "eating up" the T-shirts.

"We'll also have a physical therapist with a team of people who will help people get taped or stretched and prepared," Hargrave said.

She said they would also take care of runners who need help after the run.

Madison High School and Madison Junior School student rock bands will play live music and refreshments will be served.

"The main thing we really try to do is have a fun community day where people can come see each other, support the foundation, and also focus on physical fitness," Hargrave said.

Check-in is at 9 a.m. and the High Five 5K Run/Walk starts at 10 a.m. The Kids' Fun Run, open to children ages 10-and-under, starts at 11 a.m.

Awards for the 5K will be given to the first three overall male and female racers and the first three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 14-and-under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70-and-over.  All participants ages 10-and-under will receive medals for crossing the finish line.