The sound of sneakers pounding the pavement in November at Mountain Avenue Elementary School’s annual jog-a-thon resulted in more than $24,500 being raised for the school’s MACK (Mountain Avenue Committed to Kids) organization. In total the students completed 10,345 laps, averaging 18.9 laps per student, and the donations netted will be used to improve the computer laboratory and library, provide grade level grants, and upgrade technology and playground structures on the La Crescenta campus. More than 575 students took part in a 20-minute jog on a one-tenth mile track during the 3rd Annual MACK Jog-A-Thon event.

An invitation only award event was held on Dec. 4 for students who raised more than $100 in donations. Healthy treats and drinks were served, and students danced to their favorite songs while more than 125 gifts and prizes were given away via raffle. Local businesses and Mountain Avenue families donated the collection of gift certificates and prizes awarded to the students.

Top fundraisers were Susanne Carpenter (sixth grade) with $348, Francesca Nolte (third grade) with $340, Mara Nieyst (fifth grade) and Rochelle Guandique (sixth grade) tied with $300, and Andrew Walsh (fifth grade) with $281.50 in pledges and donations raised. Rebecca Lyons’ third grade class won the award for most donations raised by a lower grade class with $1,370, and Margo Ewing’s fourth grade class earned honors for an upper grade class by receiving $2,330 from their friends, families and neighbors.

“This year’s jog-a-thon was a terrific success and all of the credit should go to the hard working students of Mountain Avenue who not only went out and ran hard during the jog-a-thon but were also very motivated to seek pledges and donations from friends and family members to help their school,” said event coordinator Skip McNevin.