By Tara Cavanaugh
When Dicken Elementary PTO members Micki Schueler and Kirstin Queen came up with the idea for the Dicken Dash, they had no idea how successful it would be.
They hoped the fundraiser, in which students took pledges, trained and then ran laps on a track outside the school Oct. 8, would net around $6,000.
Instead, the school’s 367 students raised a total of $15,817. “For the first year doing this at our school, we are thrilled!” Schueler said.
Schueler credits the success of the fundraiser to the hardworking students, dedicated parents and to local businesses that helped contribute: Absopure, Running Fit, Mark 9 Salon, Ann Arbor Pediatric Dentistry, PassPorter, Realtor Julie Svinicki, Huron Valley Naturopathic Clinic, Huron Valley Aikikai, Deluxe Corp., M-Den and Main Street Optometry. “These businesses helped us offset a lot of our costs,” Schueler said.
Besides raising money and encouraging fitness, Queen said another goal of the fundraiser was to give back to the community. Students voted on a local nonprofit, the Huron Valley Humane Society, to receive 10 percent of the fundraiser proceeds.
At Dicken’s Oct. 23 assembly, Karen Patterson from the Humane Society accepted a $1,500 check. She brought along a black rescue dog named Eddie, a six-month-old pit bull mix.
“We work with over 10,000 animals a year, so we need lots of help giving them food and medication and lots of love and attention,” Patterson said. “The money you donated is going to help feed the animals and find them a home so they have somewhere safe and loving to grow up the rest of their lives.
“Thank you so very much for all of your help and all of your support!”
Schueler and Queen said the Dicken Dash funds will go toward field trips and an outdoor classroom. They hope to do the fundraiser again next year.
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Good morning Dicken Community!
I am so proud of your efforts of exercising and giving back to the community. Keep up the GREAT work!
Principal Johnson
Lakewood Elementary School
Ann Arbor Public Schools