Meneley students walk on sunshine for good cause

The entire student body of Meneley Elementary poured onto the school's east field Friday morning for the first ever Walking on Sunshine walk-a-thon, a fundraiser organized by the school's parent-teacher organization.

"The kids got sponsored ahead of time," said PTO Vice President Monique Vaughn. "We usually do Innisbrook (gift wrap sales), and can only keep half the money. Now, we can keep it all."

Vaughn didn't have a final amount yet, but said City National Bank had donated seven bikes to reward the top earner in each grade.

She also said students earned one raffle ticket for every $10 raised, with prizes ranging from birthday parties to gift cards. The top lap-walkers in each class earned extra tickets as well.

"This is a healthy way to raise money," Vaughn said.

She said PTO funds go toward scholarships, assemblies, and school programs like the annual invention convention, among other things.

"For school spirit, this brings us all together for one event," she said.

Before walking, students warmed up with physical education teacher Ellen Lucas and the music stylings of DJ Bill McClain. They did jumping jacks, pushups, stretched and danced across the grass. Then the walk was on - hundreds of them, parents in tow, moving in giant revolutions around the field, lap after lap through the glassy sunshine.

First-grader Nathan Patton, 6, said he'd raised $400 for the event.

"I got it from my piggy bank, which is this long and this fat," he said, using his hands to show the size of his stash. "This is cool because I like to walk."

PTO President Manya Brooks thanked City National Bank and McClain, who donated his service, for their generosity.