More than 800 students at L.B. Morris Elementary School in Jim Thorpe, enjoyed the crisp fall weather on Tuesday by taking part in the sixth annual Relay Walk. Each year the event is held at the Jim Thorpe High School football stadium to raise funds for the school.

PTA President Renee Marciante said the event began as a way to raise funds for the school's playground, but after the playground was built, the PTA continued the relay walk at the request of the students.To take part students ask for pledges from family and friends and then walk with their classmates for about an hour and a half around the one-quarter mile track at the football field.PTA secretary Cheryl Bartholomew said the funds raised on Tuesday, about $4,500 minus expenses, will go for student assemblies, programs and field trips, which will be determined by the classroom teachers."We have about 140 PTA members comprised of parents and teachers," said Bartholomew. "We could use more people to get involved. You don't have to be a parent or a teacher, you can be a grandparent, or business person. We need the entire community behind us."Marciante said that the best part of the day was seeing all the children outdoors together."They really look forward to this event."Bartholomew said that while the children love the walk, the event is really all about the tug-of-war which pits classmates in the same grade against each other from kindergarten through eighth grade."The tug-of-war spices things up. It's an extra activity and they love it," said Bartholomew."Our DJ today is Joe Halenar who is a physical education teacher," said Bartholomew. "He keeps the kids walking and jamming as they circle the track."Lisa Pompa, director of cardiac pulmonary rehab at Blue Mountain Health System, Gnaden Huetten Campus, was at the site to give free blood pressure and render first aid."It is so good to promote physical activities for your health," said Pompa.Sponsors for the event were Jim Thorpe Market, Lowes, Giant, Nesquehoning McDonalds and Arby's."The volunteers make this happen," said Marciante. "We had 30-plus volunteers working at this event."Marciante said that the PTA's annual budget is about $27,000. She said that approximately $10,000 is used for field trips alone."The PTA raises funds throughout the year to pay for all the extras that bring the school and community together," she added. "The PTA funds pay for the Red Ribbon campaign and the upcoming Family Fun Night on Oct. 25, which will be a Halloween party with plenty of family-friendly activities""Kids will be in costume and we'll have a DJ and we'll be painting pumpkins," said Bartholomew.Bartholomew noted that the school also has a big PTA sponsored Book Fair the week of Nov. 4-8, and families are invited on Wednesday, Nov. 6, to attend, with or without children.Bartholomew noted that the PTA has a variety of other fundraisers, such as candy sales, basket raffles, bingo and Zumba-thons.