Mineral County students head to Alberton for Fun Run

Kindergarten through sixth grade students from all three Mineral County Schools were in Alberton Wednesday morning to participate in the Eighth Annual Mineral County Fun Run.

The event was started by the Peggy Stevens and Sue Hazlett of the Mineral County Health Department after the two attended a conference that had a heavy emphasis on combating the obesity rates amongst youth in the state.

“We heard about other schools that had done it and so that year we organized the fifth and sixth graders and had our first fun run,” Hazlett said.

Four years later, the Physical Education Teacher at St. Regis Schools suggested all students in kindergarten through sixth grade should participate in the event and it became what it is today.

“It’s a healthy way to have fun and the students all enjoy themselves,” Hazlett said.

Healthy living is the emphasis of the day and according to Hazlett even the lunches were made up of health options such as wraps.

The schools also have what Hazlett called “some friendly competition” during the event and the total times for the participants are added up after the running is completed. This year, Superior took the Fun Run crown and will have bragging rights until the next installment of the race.

“The teachers also seem to enjoy it a lot too,” Hazlett said. “They don’t really get to visit with teachers from other schools and this gives them the chance to do that.”

Hazlett added that she would like to thank both Castles and Blackfoot for donating water bottles for the run.