Students Raise Money for Toys for Tots through Reindeer Run 5K

Thirty-five participants raised $200 for Toys for Tots on Saturday as part of the PEDA12 class’s 5K charity Reindeer Run.

PEDA12, a physical activity course at Westminster, focuses on walking/jogging for fitness as a way of promoting lifelong fitness habits.

“We discussed how environment plays a role in that,” says course instructor Amanda Stevens, instructor of Health and Exercise Science, Leadership Studies health educator and registered dietitian. “So they organized a 5K and invited their friends to join them to finish the class out.”

Part of organizing the event involved choosing a charity to support through race proceeds, and with the race slated for winter, the students landed on Toys for Tots.

“We figured that since our race was close to Christmas, this charity would be perfect to raise money to give children, who otherwise might not get Christmas gifts, a great surprise,” says Kellie Kavanaugh ’17.

From planning to implementation, the students had their hands in every aspect of the project and learned a great deal along the way.

“I definitely learned a lot through this class,” Kavanaugh says. “I learned how to organize an event, and I also learned how to create goals and carry those goals out. I got to do something for myself through this class and end it by doing something for a cause greater than myself.”

Although the race was a just for fun, Kyle Collins and Haley Kitterling clocked the fastest times.

A special thanks to the Literature Club, Phi Delta Theta, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the History Club for their sponsorship and volunteer efforts for the event.