Saint Michael fifth grader Matt Flynn takes off running after a short water break Thursday. Flynn participated in his school's Race for Education, aimed at raising money for school projects. Pilot Photo/Tim Robertson

By Tim Robertson Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — Students at Saint Michael Catholic School went the extra mile Thursday, to raise money for their school.
Each class participated in the Race for Education. The students raise money through pledges for a specific school projects. This year, the goal is to buy laptop computers for Saint Michael teachers.
Students write mailers and send them to family and friends asking for donations. But after the mailers are sent, the students’ work isn’t finished. The main event of Race for Education is an hour-long run/walk around the quarter-mile block where Saint Michael Rectory is located.
Some students jogged Thursday, some walked and chatted with their friends. All of them got some exercise. Race for Education volunteer organizers Shannon Marrs and Amy Ditmire said raising money is just one of the goals of the event.
“It’s promoting health and exercise,” Marrs said. “It gets the kids outside and off the XBox. We also try to promote water drinking.”
Ditmire said each part of Race for Education is connected with lessons the students are learning in class. The personal letters students write on their mailers are part of their writing curriculum and exercise and water drinking are part of the students’ health education.
Marrs said students raised $23,000 through Race for Education last year. This year, she said, they’re aiming to raise more.