Hartshorn Teachers Running to Support Valerie Fund

Visitors to Hartshorn Elementary School recently might have thought they've stepped back to the 1960s with the amount of tie-dye the teachers have been wearing.

But the colorful shirts aren't to turn back the clocks. It's for the team—called Whine Run—who will be running and walking in the Valerie Fund's Walk Run Hope event on Saturday in Verona Park. The Valerie Fund, based on Millburn Avenue in Maplewood, supports health care for children with cancer and blood disorders.

The effort is led by Lisa McGuire, a teacher at the school, who started running last winter because her sister registered the two of them in a half marathon. It was on the heels of her father-in-law dying of lung cancer.

Once she completed the 13-mile race, she wanted to keep up the activity, but wanted to turn it to a good cause. The flier for the Valerie Fund's event came across her desk, and it was something she thought would be good in which to participate. "It would be good way to honor them," she said of her in-laws, who both died of lung cancer. "They both loved children and supported education."

Because she started running, she was losing weight, and others commented on her changed body. And some teachers started running and were interested in joining together for a 5K race. It's how they all came together for the race on Saturday.

There are a total of 30 teachers and family members running together on the team, and McGuire said the support has been overwhelming. She thought they would raise $700, but they've raised over $3,000 and are seventh among fund-raisers for the race. "And we don't have a patient we're running for like the other six teams in front of us," she said.

Additionally, parents and students have been supporting the team in other ways. One parent donated her talents to create the colorful tie-dyed shirts with Whine Run printed across the front. The students have been excited for the race, and some have said they will come and cheer them on and have made banners.

"It's a way we can get healthy and do good for others," McGuire said. "It's the first thing I've done for a good cause, and it's been a wonderful experience."

Those who wish to donate to the team's effort can do so through the Valerie Fund's website.