Apple A Day 5K to Raise Funds For Easthampton Schools
EASTHAMPTON, MA -- As school was coming to a close last year, Andrew Foster, a parent
and fourth grade teacher at Leeds Elementary School in Northampton, wanted to do something to
benefit Maple Street School, where his son Mattias was a student.
Foster surveyed the school’s teachers about what supplies they needed and the most frequent
answer was new technology. An avid runner, Foster organized a 5k with the help of the Parent
Teachers Organization to raise funds for the school. The event last October had 110 participants
and raised $3,000.
“People had a good time,” Foster said. “It was a success.”
Foster and his four person committee, Joe Wyman, Marin Goldstein, Rebecca Flaherty, and
Rebecca Reznick-Zellen, are currently in the midst of planning the second annual Apple A Day
5k, to be held on November 2, 2014. The event will begin with a ¼ mile Fun Run for kids at
12:15 p.m. around Easthampton High School. At 12:30 p.m., participants can line up at the high
school for a two mile walk through Nonotuck Park.
The 5k main event, will kick off at 1:00 p.m. The 5k will begin at Easthampton High School
wind its way through Nonotuck Park, and end back at the high school. The event will feature
entertainment by the Expandable Brass Band and apples and cider from Park Hill Orchard. A
raffle featuring items from Mt Tom Ice Cream, Galaxy Restaurant, Snap Fitness, Full Tilt Auto
Body & Collision, and more, will also be held.
“We’re trying to make sure there is something for everybody at this event,” Foster said. “We’re
trying to get a real family atmosphere established.”
Registration fee for the walk and 5k is $25; while the Fun Run is free. Families of up to five
people can register for $50. Registration fees on the day of the Apple A Day 5k will be $30 for
individuals and $60 for families. All registrants are automatically entered into the raffle.
Proceeds from this year’s 5k will go toward the purchase of iPads and smart boards for Maple,
Center and Pepin elementary schools.
Foster is hoping for more participants and to raise more money this year.
“We’re looking to double the amount of money we raise this year and we’d like to have 150-170
runners,” he said. “If I can raise $7,000 this year, that would be great.”
Money is coming from sponsorships and the registration fee. Foster started planning the Apple A
Day 5k in January, but did much of his fundraising during his summer break from teaching. The
first thing he did was go to the Easthampton and other area businesses where he is a customer.
Foster found that local businesses were more than willing to help. The attitude was that they
would be supporting the people that keep them in business.
“Local businesses have been great at sponsoring this event,” Foster said.
Sponsors for Apple A Day 5K are A-Z Storage and Properties, Pioneer Valley Fencing
Academy, Easthampton Savings Bank, Park Hill Orchard, Fleury Lumber, Taylor Real Estate,
Hampshire Pediatrics, Easthampton Police Association, Full Tilt Auto Body & Collision, ESP
Auto, Big E’s Supermarket, Galaxy Restaurant, Burger King, Luthier’s Co-Op, Big Red Frame
Custom Framing, Easthampton Feed & Supplies, Snap Fitness, Young World Child Care Center,
Easthampton Machine and Tool, Puffer Printing, Silver Spoon Restaurant, Canon Real Estate,
Mountain View Farm, Manchester Hardware, Mt. Tom’s, and Richard’s Fuel and Heating, Inc.
For more information, to register for the event or make a donation, see the Apple A Day 5K
website, www.easthampton5k.com