The first annual Manitou Springs 5K was held Saturday Oct. 5 at Fields Park. The 5K, which raised approximately $12,300, was held as a fundraiser for the school district. This year the proceeds will be going to the MSMS art programs.
The idea for the 5K was brought up by Cassandra Bresnahan and the MSMS and MSHS student councils helped in planning and advertising for the event. Student Body President Yonas Hanson (11) was a main contributor.
“A mom of one of the girls on the cross country team has been trying to get more involved with the school, and she thought it would be a really good way to bring the community and the school together,” Hanson said. “It’s also something she’s passionate about.”
MSHS student council members main role in the 5k was to advertise to the school, they achieved their $10,000 goal by raising approximately $12,300.
“The money is going towards the district. This year the money is going towards MSMS art programs, so the money is going to go straight into affecting the students,” Hanson said. “Every penny raised will help us.”
Other student council members also had a role in helping. Addie Dorsey (10) saw the 5K as a way to bring the community together.
“This is an important event because it brings the community together and other people outside of the community, it also shows what we have to offer. The 5k is geared more towards the school and raising money for us,” Dorsey said. “So it’s great to see everyone come together to support us.”
Sam Duff, a history teacher at MSHS, participated in the event and saw the community involvement.
“I just kind of want to be a part of some history. It was a great community event where I knew I would see a lot of people involved with the school,” Duff said. “I wanted to get some fitness in early in the morning and see community members out and about.”
Hanson hopes that the 5K will continue and there will be more events in the future.
“The goal is that this will be the first annual and I think there’ll be other projects in the works as well,” Hanson said. “But every fall, we hope to have this 5k on the same course and get more and more people every year and hopefully we just keep growing.”
