On Oct. 1, Park View Middle School kicked off their newest initiative, a Veterans Day 5K road race to benefit both the school and the Wounded Warrior Project.

“This is a huge event for us, both as a fundraiser and as a service project,” said Principal Mike Crudale, as he addressed the staff and students last week, all wearing pink for the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

John Macera, physical education teacher at the school and one of the key members from a group of the staff who brought in Rachel’s Challenge to the school last year, addressed the audience as well.

“A little over a year ago, I spoke to you about Rachel’s Challenge and how we hoped to use it as a model to impact everything we did,” Macera said. “We did a great job of that last year, and we’re hoping to build on that this year. We hope to make this road race an annual event, to help Park View and to reach out to the Wounded Warrior Project and raise money for those wounded soldiers who are coming home.”

He showed the students a short clip from the website of the Wounded Warrior Project, emphasizing for them the importance of the new initiative.

Macera said Nov. 11 was chosen because it is Veterans Day, a significant date for the soldiers as well as being a day out of school and work for many, which could help increase participation in the event.

“There is no school that day and we are looking for individuals to help out. There will be a lot of ways to participate, to volunteer, to take part,” Macera said. “Even if you don’t want to run or walk in the race, there are lots of ways for people to help out.”

Crudale and Macera introduced the new website for the race, cpsed.net/pview/5Khome.html, which allows people to register for the event based on their division and category. They announced a team-to-team competition within the school, with the winning team bringing in the most money either through runners or through sponsors receiving a donated Kona Ice Truck from faculty member Robert Bouchard.

“The response from the Park View faculty has been above and beyond,” Macera said. “Skip Donnelly is also donating DJ services, and district-wide, several schools across the district are also taking part, putting together teams to participate in the race.”

Macera encouraged the students to remember the sacrifices of the veterans as they take part in this new school initiative.

“This is a big event for our community. Let’s do it in honor of the veterans, of the wounded soldiers that day,” he said. “Let’s salute and give back to the people who have given so much to us.”