Lone Peak Elementary students laced up their sneakers on Oct.10 for the school’s annual Fun Run fundraiser; they didn’t just meet their goal, they crossed the finish line ahead.

“We came out ahead,” said Amy Heath, Lone Peak PTA fun run chair. “Our goal was $25,000 and our total came in at $25,106.55. We started off slow, but we finished strong.”

About 470 students participated, running about 15 minutes around the school perimeter while parents and teachers cheered them on. Sandy City police officers helped block nearby streets to keep runners safe.  

This year’s fundraiser combined online donations, a silent auction featuring donated items such as zoo passes, pickleball paddles and milestone raffles that kept students motivated. There was even a few incentives from their administrators.

At $20,000, Vice Principal Rachel Ostvig kissed a pig named George, brought in from a farm in Payson. 

“George was adorable,” Heath said. “He’s a show pig from the fair, and the kids loved it.”

When donations surpassed $25,000, Principal Shad DeMill was duct taped to an outdoor portable and the top 10 student fundraisers each got to throw a whipped cream pie in his face. 

“The kids loved it. They were super motivated to hit those extra incentives,” she said.

Money raised from the fun run supports next school year’s PTA’s many programs which enrich students’ school experience — everything from Red Ribbon Week and Chinese New Year celebrations to art night and Book Blitz Jr. 

“All of the extras that make the school year fun,” Heath explained. “They help build more well-rounded students and it helps them beyond the academics in the classroom. It was a great event; the kids aren’t going to remember what math book they were using, but they’ll definitely remember field trips, when their principal was taped to the wall and the vice principal kissed a pig.”

The PTA also were working on a Veterans Day and first responders’ assembly and a positive behavior “Polar Express” hot cocoa party.

Lone Peak Principal Shad DeMill was duct taped to a portable classroom and pied with whipped cream pies as an incentive for students reaching their fundraising goal. (Courtesy Amy Heath)