HOUSTON – March 25, 2019 – Spring ISD’s second annual Fun Run and Wellness Fair was bigger than ever on Saturday, drawing almost 400 participants, and dozens of community and business partners for an event that raised thousands of dollars for student scholarships and celebrated fitness and health.
“It just reminds me that you can have fun and be healthy and just enjoy celebrating life with each other,” said Christopher Ceaser, a basketball coach at nearby Nimitz High School. He came out Saturday with his wife and parents to cheer on his children, fifth-grader Leila and fourth-grader Kingston, as they crossed the finish line. Both attend Winship Elementary.
“No matter where you are – a walker or a runner, doing the full course or the half course – everybody can come out and have a good time,” Ceaser said.
Fun was the theme for the event which was designed to showcase Old Town Spring with a three-mile course for runners and a 1.5-mile loop for walkers and younger participants that began and finished at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School.
The goal was less about coming in first place and more about team-building and raising funds for student scholarships. Although final proceeds are still being tallied, Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney Watson was optimistic that this year’s event would surpass last year’s total of $10,000.
“We are gratified by everyone’s support and by the turnout,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see so many families out with their students enjoying a beautiful morning. This kind of community event is a win for our entire community because we’re building team spirit for the district.”
LaTracy Harris, principal at Beneke Elementary School, and her team of some 15 staff members and their families, showed off their spirit by dressing in rainbow-colored tutus, and calling themselves the Tutu Cute Crew.
“Beneke brought it – like we always do,” Harris said. “My team, we ran together. I knew it was going to be fun but I didn’t know it was going to be this much fun.”
This was not the first year for Beneke to field a team, but it was the first time they came dressed in tutus. “This year we had to step it up a notch,” Harris said. “Now, I don’t know what we are going to do next year.”
Volunteer Kelley Cox, who retired several years ago after more than 30 years with the district, most recently as an assistant principal at Salyers Elementary School, was busy filling water cups for the walkers and runners as they rounded the corner on the course and entered the final stretch.
About volunteering, Cox said, “I love it. It helps me see the kids and see teachers I haven’t seen for a long time. It’s fun to be a part of something, fun to see everybody come out to support a good cause.”
This was Cox’s first year to help with the Fun Run but not her first time as a volunteer. In December she helped with the district’s Winter Wonderland literacy event. “It’s nice to come back and see everybody and help the district I was so close to for such a long time,” Cox said.
Participants and volunteers were also encouraged to take part in the Wellness Fair inside Wunsche High School, which featured dozens of vendors and community partners, who handed out branded giveaways and lots of information about services and businesses in Spring.
“It’s an opportunity to support our community, and to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles starting when they’re young,” said Dione Booker, vice president of operations for Gold’s Gym Houston. “It’s a nice turnout this morning. It’s always so fun to come out for community events like these.”
While most participants went home Saturday with smiles, some got to take home medals. Superintendent Watson was assisted by Board President Rhonda Newhouse in handing out awards, including first place to Andrew Bergeron, in the 1.5 mile race for students 13 and under.
The eighth-grader at Twin Creeks Middle School started running track just last year.
“It’s fun,” he said. “I just like running for a long time.” His mom, Jennifer Bergeron, said she was proud of her son for making the most of every opportunity. “He amazes me every day with all the activities that he takes part in. He’s a great kid, a great student, a great role model,” she said.
For a complete list of winners, please click here.
Also making a trip to the winner’s stand on Saturday was Eros Shaw, who helped sponsor the event at the silver level ($2,000) on behalf of his business Mystros Barber Academy. He earned a third-place medal in his age category and said it was an easy decision to partner with the district to make the race possible.
“I’m a product of the district,” he said. “Being in the community as long as I’ve been and now being in a position to give back, it’s a blessing and it’s a pleasure to be able to do that.”
The other Silver sponsor of the event was BBVA Compass Bank. Bronze-level contributors ($1,000) included:PBK Architects, IDG Architects, First Financial Group, Omicron Tau Omega Chapter of AKA, and Charm Dental.