Lakeside Riverview Elementary School’s ‘Stash and Dash’ combines exercise, fundraising and fun

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More than 700 children, parents, teachers and local law enforcement and firefighters donned their moustaches at Riverview Elementary School in Lakeside on Friday—and ran. In its annual Stash and Dash (aka jog-a-thon) the community came together to raise money for the school’s many programs, without the benefit of needing to sell candy, cookie dough used in many school fundraisers.

More than 700 children, parents, teachers and local law enforcement and firefighters donned their moustaches at Riverview Elementary School in Lakeside on Friday—and ran. In its annual Stash and Dash (aka jog-a-thon) the community came together to raise money for the school’s many programs, without the benefit of needing to sell candy, cookie dough used in many school fundraisers.

Principle Olympia Kyriakidis said this was both a fun and healthy way to raise money for the school headed by the schools Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA).

“It is one of those win-win scenarios,” she said. “The school wins because the kids fundraise and students and their families win because we have a great time,” she said. 

The school teaches the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” and Kyriakidis said the event supports the seventh habit, “Sharpen the Saw,” which promotes community, good eating habits, exercise and sleep.

“The fundraising helps the school with all of our programs,” she said. “The kids here all learn three languages, English, Spanish and Chinese, so the children are trilingual when they leave here and can hold basic conversations with two-thirds of the worlds population.

Lakeside School District Superintendent David Lorden said this is an opportunity to build community at the school and the students see what they are doing benefits the school with the dollars that they raise.

“Last year, they raised more than $60,000 and it is expected they will exceed that amount this year,” he said. “This is an impressive school.”