The weather is finally starting to warm up, just in time for the annual Madison 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, May 4. Held annually at Madison High School, the run passes through nearby streets to cover – you guessed it – five kilometers and is open to anyone interested. The run is a fun way for everyone to show their support for the Madison Public School system, with entertainment, refreshments, a raffle, and more. Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female finishers, as well as for winners in each age group, and participants receive a free t-shirt that is designed every year by a MHS Digital Photography student as supplies last. This years’ design was created by sophomore Alex LaHaie. Kids under ten-years-old can also participate in the Kids’ Fun Runs, which are 100 m, ¼ mile, or one mile, and get a free ice cream voucher from McCool’s Ice Cream.
Last year, over 800 people turned out to run. Anyone in the Madison Public School system would have seen many familiar faces from school. Kids from all grades came out to beat an old 5K time, try a race for the first time, or just have fun. Will Hendrickson, a sophomore at MHS who took seventh place overall last year as a freshman, commented on his experience, saying “It was a great experience running with people from Madison and also running for a great cause.” The race wasn’t just limited to students, however. Many faculty members from Madison schools ran as well, including Mr. Ciferni and Mrs. Marotta from the Madison Junior School and Mr. Robertson, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Levine, and Mr. Largo from MHS. Mr. Levine plans to run again this year, saying it will be “extra special for me because I’m going to be running with my eight-year-old son.” He says his goal “every year – I don’t care what my time is – is to beat Mr. Connolly, Mr. LaPierre, Mr. Robertson, and Mrs. Marotta.”
Profits from the 5K benefit the Madison Education Foundation, an organization founded in 2003 to provide grants to Madison High School. Over the years, its reach has expanded to encompass the entire Madison Public Schools system, always keeping true to its original vision of “award[ing] grants that help faculty and staff inspire and challenge Madison public school students.” Some of its most recent grants at MHS include the new laptop carts for the sciences, an author visit by Martha Witt to select English classes, Mac laptops and cameras for the Fine Art Digital Imaging class, and acoustic performance shells to improve acoustics in the auditorium where performances are held.
The run promises to be a great experience for anyone involved, while also supporting educational efforts in Madison. If you haven’t already signed up, walk-ins are welcome beginning at nine AM the day of the race. The race begins at ten AM, with Kids’ Fun Runs at 11 AM.