The Weather Was Perfect for the RacineKids Walk/Run

While many of us were disappointed with the weather Saturday, runners in the 2011 Racine Kids Spirit Walk/Run declared it perfect: not hot, no wind and there isn't any rain.

Racine Unified PTA, with a lot of help from Racine's Minuteman Press and AD-Vantage Promotions, sponsored this year's event. Proceeds provide funding for many items on our area school “wish lists” as well as scholarships

Carla Thillemann, a special education assistant at Fratt School, was happy to explain Fratt students participation this year.

“Our kids raised over $2,500 toward new playground equipment," she said. "There was a lot of improvements made on our building this year, but we needed and wanted new playground equipment."

Fratt Principal Jim Hass promised the students if they raised a specific amount he would run this race in a tutu. See the photos that go with this story for proof!

“The schools get to keep 90 percent of what they collect,” according to Jane Finkenbine, a Racine Unified PTA representative. “The rest goes back to Racine PTA and is used to sustain the Scholarship Fund.”

Pledge forms ask each participant to name their organization or school the pledge funds are meant for. The RACINEKIDS.org group provides this opportunity for community members to raise funds for their chosen school/organization without using their own time and expenses to carryout a fundraiser.

The members of Anchor Fitness, in downtown Racine, made strongest showing of support for the community by bringing over 40 runners and walkers to participate in the walk/run.

5K participants made their way along a route to the REC Center and then back to North Beach. Those doing the entire 10K turned around at Colonial Park and returned to North Beach.