The following was supplied to me as an example of what one teacher did. This is not fiction. I think it is a testament to what impact one person can make. A person with a passion, drive and determination to change the tide can make all the difference in the world. This person could be a teacher, an administrator, a school board member, a parent, grandparent, retired individual or a student.

After several years of reaping the benefits of running, I decided to inspire my third grade class of 22 children to begin a walking and/or running program with the permission from the school administration.

The year was 1980, and I devised a program that would encourage each student to perform a daily after-school walking program in their own neighborhood. Once a week, each student would bring in his/her total miles for that week and the results would be recorded individually on a chart placed on the door to the classroom. It was suggested that each Mom or Dad would drive the child’s course in order to get an accurate mileage.

It wasn’t long before the other two teachers on the team wanted to be included in the plans, as did their children. So now we had 66 children participating. As the weeks progressed, the children became more excited. The P.E. teachers began to include a weekly run/walk during a P.E. period.

Realizing I was “on” to something after a while, I suggested we have a three-mile walk/run in the spring to show off our newly found sport. To add incentive, we discussed getting pledges from parents and other family members to promise to pay an amount they felt the effort deserved if the student finished the three miles. All the money would go to a charity chosen by the 66 children. I was totally unprepared for the amount of enthusiasm this generated among the students.

Before we could ask for pledges we needed to get permission from the parents, then choose a date and time for the walk/run, choose a charity, and devise a pledge sheet. About this time, a group of parents asked for a meeting with me. Imagine my surprise when they expressed their concern about the students running and the damage that running would have on the children’s feet.

My readers of this story need to be reminded that in the early 1980s, running was not a common sport. Apparently I allayed the fears each parent expressed, for the plans were not cancelled.

The children suggested many charities, but ultimately chose an organization for the blind which was trying to get contributions to equip telephones for blind individuals to use. We also asked a blind sports radio broadcaster to come to our run and walk the three miles, and he agreed. We had a contest to design a T-shirt and the winner’s shirt had “See How They Run” on the front, along with the name of the school and the year. Parents had already agreed to pay for their students’ shirts, so the order was placed.

We had a bright, sunny day for our walk/run in a nearby subdivision. Parents enthusiastically cheered as each participant crossed the finish line. Later in the week, we presented our check to the local organization for the blind. The amount of money generated was more than any other classroom’s fundraiser had ever contributed to any school charity in the school’s history.

Since our event was so successful, I “donated” the idea to the Parents’ Association as a potential fundraiser. The walk/run has evolved into a road race for all interested people in the community. For children in grades 1-8 who wish to walk laps on the school track, there are volunteer parents who count for each student. These students had secured pledges from parents, grandparents and friends prior to the day of the event to pay for each lap walked. There is an overall winner (some walk over 100 laps). Each grade also has a boy and girl winner. The charity chosen by the children receives a very substantial money donation as well.

This charity fundraiser continues 28 years later.

All right, people of Valdosta and South Georgia – are you ready to impact our area? The only stumbling block is your imagination. Stop waiting for someone else, locate interested people and work out the details. Make an impact!

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VSU’s men’s and women’s cross country programs traveled to Searcy, Ark. to compete in the Division II NCAA South Region cross country championship held on Nov. 8. The women raced a 6K and the men a 10K.

The results are available on www.vstateblazers.com and will be in this article next week.

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Speaking about the impact of one person, listen on Tuesday, Nov. 11 from 6-7 p.m., when Shelly Cranford will be interviewed on Talk 92.1 FM regarding the highly successful middle school and high school cross country programs he directs in Bleckley County. Not only has he created interest for years and years, his runners are successful and the sizes of the team’s are larger than many football teams.

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More information about events in the surrounding area of South Georgia includes:

Nov. 15 – The 5K Turkey Trot presented at the VMS is a road race that supports the Special Olympics and the Azalea Cheerleading Extreme competitive cheerleading teams. Applications are available at Get Active.

Dec. 6 – Women’s Junior Service League presents the annual Jingle Bell Classic 15K and more. Put this family event on your calendar today.

All of these events will be good for the entire family to be involved in. Be sure to put the dates on your calendar right now. Applications are either at Get Active, or will be soon. Make the decision now to be a part of these events – raise your bar.

When you participate in an event that A Course/Line, LLC is the timing group, you can bring your race number to Get Active – Running and More on that Saturday or Sunday and receive 10 percent off purchases of in-stock items regularly priced. This is a small way to say thank you for participating in the events in our area. The 10 percent discount is not to be combined with any other offer, discount or coupons.

If you have questions about your walking, running or other training, drop me an e-mail and I will do my level best to answer your questions.

Check out www.getactivevaldosta.com to get connected. Become a member of the GetActiveSouthGeorgia yahoo group with over 100 other people. Listen to the Get Active South Georgia radio program on Tuesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. on Talk 92.1 FM to receive additional information or to ask questions.



Todd Smoot is the cross country coach at Valdosta State University and the owner of the Get Active — Running and More fitness store, located in the Winn Dixie Marketplace shopping center on North Oak Street Extension.