The Second Annual Suncrest Elementary School Dog Job 5K Run and Walk registration is coming to a close on Monday, April 15.
The school announced that the Dog Job and Carnival event set for May 3 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Suncrest. The event will feature food trucks, such as El Mata Antojos and Brandon’s Burgers, carnival games, inflatables, races and much more as the school raises funds to continue the work of service dog Bear within the school.
Fliers were once again distributed to students on Thursday, and students and community members must return the form as soon as possible as the deadline to register is Monday, April 15.
The event was inspired last year by the introduction of Bear into the school system, and it acted as a fundraiser to raise funding to continue Bear’s care well into the future.
Last year, the Dog Jog event welcomed over 100 registrants vying for a top-place finish as they embarked on a race around Suncrest throughout the neighboring streets. Principal Diane Vielee and Assistant Principal Samantha Mitchell stated that the 1-mile Fun Run received a slew of positive feedback from children and parents that participated before the 5K readied its racers. The 5K wrapped up as an hour neared on the clock with participants stating that they will encourage their friends to participate alongside them next year.
“I think for our very first ever event, it exceeded our expectations,” Vielee said. “I don’t even know how to estimate how many people were here. I love the support from the community, and we were just happy to give back and create a fun event for the community.”
Last year, as the clock raced toward the 20-minute mark, runner Drew Spenner crossed the finish line, clocking in at 20 minutes and 15 seconds as the first male finisher. Spenner stated that he exceeded his own expectations during the race, but he expressed that he maintained his confidence that he would finish in first place. Spenner further commented that he hopes to see even more competition this year who will vie for the first-place finish.
“For this being a first-year 5K, I thought the event was set up very well,” Spenner said. “It was a great day
to run a 5K, get some exercise in and get a fast time. Overall, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone, and I’m excited for next year.”
The crowd began to gather as the clock neared 30 minutes when runner Kalaelah Brackney cleared the finish line with a time of 29 minutes and 57 seconds, securing her title as the first female finisher of the race. Brackney expressed that she was enthusiastic about completing a competitive 5K while only being 10 years old.
“I feel like I can do anything now,” Brackney said.
Following the race, children were invited to participate in carnival games and activities such as basketball toss, bean bag toss, musical chairs, ring toss and much more. Many children were spotted wearing a new coat of face paint provided by community members throughout the event as an additional way to engage the community. Mitchell stated that the success of the event will ensure the upkeep of Bear for the students at Suncrest once he joins the family in 2024.
“It kind of culminated in the fundraising for Bear, the ongoing upkeep of him and additional expenses,” Mitchell said. “Anything above and beyond we need for the dog is going to go right back to the kids at the school. We appreciate everyone’s support, and we look forward to next year.”
Vielee and Mitchell expressed that the Dog Jog was created to become an annual event at Suncrest with new and innovative additions each year. According to Vielee following last year’s event, the biggest changes during this year’s Dog Jog will include the onboarding of additional volunteers and the appearance of Bear, who inspired the entire event.
“Next year will be even bigger and better, and Bear will be here,” Vielee said. “You’ll be able to meet him, and he’ll be an active participant in the event. It’s just going to be better than it was this year, so come on down and check it out.”
At its core, the event acted as an appreciation celebration for the students and community members that made the purchase of Bear a possibility through donations, sponsorships and volunteerism. The Suncrest crew plans to continue celebrating the community by showcasing Bear at local events, such as the Hot Dog Festival this summer, to highlight the impact that community members will make on every student at Suncrest through Bear.
“We really appreciate the community support not just in fundraising for Bear but all year long,” Mitchell said. “The community supports us at all of our events. They show up for things we put on. They support the teachers. They support the students, and this was just a way to say thank you and give back to the community.”
For more information on the Dog Jog and Bear’s developments, visit Suncrest Elementary School on Facebook or call the school for more information about how to register by Monday at 765-659-6265.
