Rain or Shine: District 200 Families Enjoyed the N.E.W. 200 Fun Run and Festival Despite Delay

Community Unit School District 200's N.E.W. 200 Foundation held its fifth-annual fun run today, Saturday, Sept. 18 after a half-hour rain delay at the old Hubble Middle School. Following the 5K race, runners and District 200 families stayed for bananas and water, inflatable entertainment, a D.J. and raffle prizes. 

N.E.W. 200 Foundation Board member Paul Labelle estimated between 400-500 people ran in the race, "which is a little bit light for us compared to last year," he said. 

Pleasant Hill Elementary parents Sue Rocha and Kathy Garazin said that despite the rain, they went to the race because their kids wanted to go. "Our kids ran. We walked," Rocha said.

School Board Vice President Rosemary Swanson wasn't surprised by the turnout. "The community has always shown up in a big way for this," she said.  "The P.E. teachers push from an early age the value of fitness," she added, "so I think that's what a lot of the enthusiasm is for. A lot of the kids bring their parents out to this."

Swanson's husband, Ron Swanson, who ran in the race said, "That's the disappointing thing—when a whole bunch of kids pass you out on the courts. They have tiny little legs and I've got big long legs and they're zooming right by me."  

All of the money raised at the race and festival goes to District 200 schools, Labelle said. "We give the money directly to the teachers through mini grants so the funds go directly at the classroom level," he added. "We typically bring in around $20,000 a year—this event being a big one (contributor)."