The Boosterthon Fun Run at John W. Decas Elementary School brought in all elementary school students in Wareham for an entire day of fun, running, and fundraising on Friday.

The gross total raised by both schools was around $84,000: Decas Elementary School raised $57,000 and Minot Forest raised $27,000. After program fees, the net total will go towards outdoor play equipment for Minot Forest and technology for Decas.

The Fun Run provided students a chance to get outside of the classroom and run with their friends while they raised funds for each school through pledges and donations. Through a fundraising website set up by Boosterthon, parents and members of the community were able to sponsor children. Some donated flat fees while others pledged to donate money for each lap the children ran.

“It's actually kind of a week long event. [The teachers] teach them a variety of lessons and with a theme,” said Decas Elementary School's Vice Principal, Richard Paling. “It was incredible hearing a first grader using the word 'endurance.' Excitement was everywhere.”

The event itself lasted for five hours as the students ran between 30 and 35 laps to raise funds for their schools.

Behind the Decas school, Boosterthon set up red and blue running courses for the kids. They brought in announcers and a water station for the children, as well as speakers to play music during the race.

This is the first time the schools have hosted the Fun Run and the entire event was organized by the PTA.

“It was a huge success, I think it's their biggest fundraiser,” said Paling.

“[The school] has done some good things, but this is the best thing they've done yet,” said Donna Girard, grandmother to Samantha Girard and Ethan Potito of Minot Forest. She was one of many family members that showed up to the Fun Run. She waved a board with her grandchildren's names on it in one hand and gave out high fives to the running kids in the other.

“They were so psyched for a long time for this. From making the t-shirts to making the flags,” said Cheryl Scannell, a teacher from Minot Forest. “We're going to be seeing them in the marathons,” she joked.

Classes formed teams with names like “White Sharks” and decorated their shirts for the race.

For every $50 that was donated toward the cause, a pair of sneakers was donated to a country overseas.

Paling and Minot Forest Vice Principal Marc Bell, will be getting “slimed” in the near future by the classroom that raises the most money by their respective schools.