5K Race to Raise Funds For C.T. Plunkett Reading Program
ADAMS, Mass. — The first annual Run to Read road race aims to raise awareness of reading, exercise, and funds for the C.T. Plunkett School reading curriculum.
Race organizer Jill Pompi said she hopes the race, which takes place Sunday, June 14, will aid the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District, which has seen numerous budget cuts that affect students' education, will provide some more funds to help with the reading curriculum at the elementary school level.
"I hope that it makes the public aware that we really are in a budget crisis and we really just want to raise that money so that we can purchase more reading materials that we can use," Pompi said. "Anything to support the reading curriculum that we have."
Pompi is a Title I director and literary coach at Plunkett School and an avid runner. She said she has entered races all throughout the Berkshires with her children and found that road races can raise a lot of money.
"I was writing checks for close to 100 bucks, and I realized that this money is going to all of these other schools and organizations and why hasn't anybody ever thought do this for our school?" she said.
The race also includes a 1-mile walk or kids' fun run. The 5K route starts at the Visitors Center, heads down East Hoosac Street to North Summer Street and Lime Street to the Industrial Park, where runners will turn around and head back.
Pompi said many Plunkett students have an interest in running because of a program in physical education that awards children with small plastic feet they can attach to their shoes when the run a certain distance. She said the physical education teachers will reward students with the running token if they run in the race.
"They are excited about running, and I am excited about reading," she said.
Pompi said it takes nearly $1,500 to put on a race. She said various sponsors have already contributed close to this amount so money collected from racers will go directly to the school.
She hopes added materials will help promote more reading in school and at home and ultimately help students master reading.
"Literacy is the most import aspect of learning, and without being able to read it limits you," she said. "Research shows that children that cannot read well in third grade will often times continue to struggle through school and many prisons predict their prison sizes off of third grade state test scores."
The race starts at 9:30 a.m. and race day registration starts at 8:30. Applications can be downloaded from the Run to Read's Facebook page or below; they are also available by contacting Pompi at pompij@acrsd.net or calling C.T. Plunkett.
Tags: 5k, ACRSD, fundraiser, reading program,
