Paxton Panther Race for Educational Enrichment Programs

Friday, April 05, 2013

Karen Mills, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Lace up your sneakers for a great cause--the Paxton Panther Run.

The snow has finally melted, the sun is slowly warming Central Massachusetts, and consequently, 5k road races are popping up across the state like daisies. Be sure to mark your calendars for one such race, the Panther Run, to be held in Paxton at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 27th.

“The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is organizing the Panther Run for the benefit of the Paxton Center School,” says Julie McDonald, the parent coordinator for the PTO. “It is a new fundraiser for the school. We decided on a race because it is a fun way to get the community involved. Also, a lot of the committee members are runners, myself included, so a race seemed like a great idea. It is a better fundraiser than selling wrapping paper and cookie dough.”

After this endlessly dreary and snow-coated winter, take this opportunity to soak up the pleasant April sun and get in shape while racing for a good cause.

“The money raised will fund enrichment programs for the classrooms,” says McDonald. “It will help teachers buy supplies for their students and will fund fieldtrips along with other enrichment programs.”

This April’s 5k run and one mile walk will launch what will hopefully become a Paxton Center School fundraising tradition.

“We are hoping this will be the start of an annual race. This is the first year we are putting on the race, but we’d love it to be an annual event,” says McDonald.

For newcomers to the racing world, a 5k race generally spans a distance of roughly 3.1 miles. Runners will need to be there early, as the 5k race is set to begin at 8 a.m.; the one mile walk will commence a little later at 9 a.m.

Registration for the 5k race will cost $25 per person and registration for the one mile walk will cost $12.

People of all ages and levels of fitness are welcome to participate, and many of the runners will probably be community members. As Paxton is located only 20 minutes from central Worcester, runners from the city should definitely consider registering as well.

“We are most excited about the response from the local Worcester community from both a sponsorship standpoint and the participation of runners so far,” says McDonald. “As of today we have 194 participants registered.”

Part of the Wachusett Regional School District, the Paxton Center School serves students grades K through 8. And for those of you who were wondering, the Panther is the school’s mascot, thus the incorporation into the name of the run.

Whether you are a seasoned runner looking to race for a good cause while staying in shape, a walker looking for an opportunity to enjoy the warmer spring weather with some friends, or a novice to the world of 5ks, the Panther Run is a great chance to stretch your legs. Whatever your motivation, sign up to run or walk!

To register for this race and to find out more information, please visit www.pantherrun.org.