UNION CITY, Ohio — All Mississinawa Valley School students in grades K-6 had the opportunity to participate in a first-ever Fun Run event Wednesday morning which had them running and walking, all the while having fun.

Students in grades 3-6 took part in a 5K, while the younger students only had to run one mile on Superintendent Jim Atchley’s 53rd birthday.

“We tried to keep most of it on school grounds,” said an organizer. “Some of Staudt Road was closed off during the run for the older kids.”

All of this was made possible via a grant through New Balance Shoe Company.

“It’s part of the billion-mile race campaign to have kids all over the USA collectively log over a billion miles this school year” said Emily Clark, MV physical education teacher who wrote the grant with the help of Sara Smith, intervention specialist, and Stephanie Klingshirn, principal. “MV is part of that.”

A total of 326 MV elementary students participated.

“We had 30 volunteers as well as all elementary staff either participate or help with the event,” Clark said. “We had local sponsors. Each child received a free participant short, ribbon, healthy fun snacks and a group photo to remember this special day. Plans are in the works for next year already!”

In addition to the grant, donations were received so that every student could get a neon green, “Soaring For Success” t-shirt and teachers and volunteers, blue t-shirts.

Others on hand included fire and rescue officials in case there were any safety issues as was a trainer.

Afterwards, students played games, and there were a couple of bounce toys on which they could play.

When announcing the run, Clark told the crowd, “This is Global Running Day across the world. We are participating in something bigger than just at Mississinawa Valley.”