The inaugural 7k for Kids Fun Run was a huge success last Saturday, as racers and families enjoyed a beautiful Minnesota fall morning. The purpose of the race was to promote a $7,000 Educational Savings Account (ESA) for parents and students seeking an educational alternative that better suits their needs. The initiative is a partnership between American Experiment and Opportunity for All Kids (OAK).
Your author managed to run/walk the entire four-mile course that began in American Experiment’s parking lot and wandered through Bryant Lake Park. The weather was perfect and the course was beautiful. Most of the runners took advantage of the traditional 5k turn-around, but a few of us “ran the extra mile for kids” in completing the entire 7k race. The winner’s circle for both races was dominated by young people.
Besides the runners, the biggest winner of the day was the Fones family, who walked away with the grand prize of a $7,000 scholarship to help with tuition this year. Dad Isaac Fones purchased the winning ticket on behalf of his daughter Lilly, who attends Liberty Classic Academy. Our goal was to model the 7k for Kids legislation by giving one family a scholarship.
“It’s a huge blessing,” said Isaac Fones. “We’ wouldn’t want to have our kids anywhere other than a Christian school, so this is amazing and it’s going to help out tremendously.”
While the runners were toiling on the race course, family and friends participated in a Zero-K walk, jumped in the bounce house, drew an American flag with chalk and lined up to get their faces painted.
After a successful inaugural event, next year’s “first annual” 7k for Kids Fun Run promises to be even better.
For more information on the ongoing 7k for Kids campaign click here.
